FAQs

What are the requirements to student teach in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS)?

University Approval

All student teacher applicants must obtain university approval and must have completed all the required coursework and clinical hours, as well as be enrolled in a student teaching course. The college or university must also approve the student teaching school site placement.

Application

In order to apply to the CPS Student Teaching Program, you must complete our registration process. This includes:

On-line Registration Profile
TB Test
Criminal Background Check

What is student teaching?
Student teaching usually occurs at the final phase of the traditional teacher certification process. Comparable to an internship, student teaching is a full-time placement that involves working with a cooperating teacher who provides guidance about administrative tasks, instruction, assessment, classroom management, and other education-related responsibilities. A university supervisor also provides feedback and formal evaluation. Student teaching must be done at the grade level(s) and in the area of specialization sought. The length of the experience is determined by each college or university, but usually lasts an entire quarter or semester; dates are agreed upon between the cooperating school and university.

Why should I do my student teaching in CPS?
As a student teacher in CPS, you will not only receive guidance and mentoring from veteran CPS teachers, you will also have a chance to work in a premier urban district and impact the lives of students who need you most.

How is CPS structured?
CPS is the third largest public school system in the United States, serving approximately 400,000 children in over 600 schools.

How safe are the schools?
Safety is a high priority in CPS. CPS has a strong plan in place to deal with school violence and provide teachers with outlets to report safety issues at their schools. We encourage candidates to visit the areas in which they may teach during a regular school day to determine their own level of comfort with the environment. For each negative story portrayed in the media regarding Chicago's schools, there are several positive examples of strong achievements by our fellows, including achieving significant academic gains with their students, assuming leadership responsibilities at their schools and creating their own after-school clubs and programs.

Do I need to be a resident of the City of Chicago to apply?
No. The CPS residency requirement does not apply to student teachers and/or interns.

Will CPS provide a high-quality student teaching experience?
CPS is committed to ensuring all students are provided superior instructional programs and supportive school environments that will allow them to meet standards and develop high aspirations. The goals include improving school leadership, enhancing instruction and partnering with families and communities. The high-quality CPS programs in literacy, math, science and the arts are complimented by numerous after-school and pre-school programs. You can learn more about our district and recent initiatives by visiting www.cps.edu.

What are the responsibilities of a student teacher, cooperating teacher, school administration and university supervisor?
Please be sure to review the roles and responsibilities of each party with your university. These roles are outlined in the CPS student teacher agreement signed by each university partner. In addition, you may refer to the CPS Student Teaching Handbook for a comprehensive overview of the duties/responsibilities of the student teacher, cooperating teacher, school administrator and university supervisor role in the student teaching process. Please click here to access the Student Teaching Handbook.

How long is student teaching?
The length of the student teaching assignment is determined by each university. Typically, student teaching is for an entire quarter or semester. Student teachers should check with their college or university for their individual requirements.

Can student teachers get paid?
Student teaching is a university course requirement, of which the student teacher fulfills within a selected school district. The student teaching experience is non-compensated. CPS employees that need to student teach should contact Employee Services to initiate the Leave of Absence process.

Should the student teacher follow the university calendar or the CPS calendar?
Student teachers should follow the CPS calendar unless otherwise directed by their university programs. Specific start and end times of each for schools vary from site to site. Please be sure to confirm your student teaching schedule with your university and CPS school placement site.

How many absences are student teachers allowed?
Each college or university has its own attendance requirements. However, student teachers are expected to be at school every day during student teaching. Any exceptions should be worked out with the university supervisor and cooperating teacher.

What if a student teacher needs to call in sick or has an unexpected emergency?
If a student teacher needs to miss a day because of illness or an emergency, he or she should contact the cooperating teacher and university supervisor as soon as possible. The university supervisor will decide if this time needs to be made up.

Can a student teaching experience be terminated?
Yes. If the student teacher demonstrates unethical or unprofessional behavior that disrupts student learning or fails to meet the pre-established requirements, student teaching can be terminated.

How are student teaching placement sites selected?
Each university typically employs a Field Placement Officer who will work with the CPS networks and building principals to identify schools that provide meaningful student teaching experiences by demonstrating the following characteristics:

Good leadership
A well-organized curriculum
An active professional learning community
A low incidence of serious discipline problems

Retired CPS teachers/administrators and local personnel with successful careers in education are also available through the Student Teaching Program to serve as university supervisors.

What type of mentoring is available to student teachers?

Cooperating/Mentor Teachers

Under the guidance of accomplished cooperating teachers in diverse educational settings, you will be offered the opportunity to improve your instructional strategies, assessment practices and classroom management skills.

Professional Development Events

As a CPS student teacher, you’ll be provided a unique opportunity to participate in innovative professional development events designed especially for the pre-service experience. You’ll learn more about the school district and attend workshops that provide you with practical strategies, tips and advice that will prepare you for success in an urban environment, while simultaneously complimenting your university curriculum. You will receive email updates regarding professional development opportunities and registration procedures. We hope you'll consider attending one or all of our workshops. Our priority is to provide enrichment and enhance your development as an educator to ensure your success!

Is there housing assistance available?
Due to budget restraints at this time, the CPS Teacher Housing Unit no longer provides assistance to student teachers seeking housing.

Will I be certified to teach immediately after completing my student teaching?
You will be certified to teach upon successful completion of all university teacher education requirements and proper issuance of your teaching certificate from the certifying body in your state. Please visit your university teacher certification office and/or the Illinois State Board of Education's website for more information at www.isbe.net.

Upon completion of the student teaching program, will CPS guarantee and/or offer me a full-time teaching position?
The CPS hiring process is 100% principal-driven, which means that individual school administrators have the autonomy to determine and select those teacher candidates that most fit with their selection criteria and school culture. As a CPS student teacher, you will have demonstrated your commitment to urban education and, upon completion of the program, you will be well-prepared to begin your job search process. Please visit our Human Capital webpage for the most up-to-date recruitment information, www.teachchicago.com.

Again, thank you for your interest in the Chicago Public Schools Student Teaching Program. We look forward to you becoming our partner in urban education.

Legal Statement (Title IX): It is the policy of the Board of Education of the City of Chicago not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability or sex. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the regulations promulgated thereunder concerning sex discrimination should be referred to the Title IX Officer, Chicago Public Schools, 125 S. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois 60603, 773-553-2688 (TTY-773-553-2699).