TEACHER CANDIDATE SUPPORT PLAN For teacher candidates experiencing difficulties at a placement site
National College of Education
When difficulties arise at the placement site, the teacher candidate will meet with the university supervisor and the cooperating teacher to discuss the concerns. This meeting may be initiated at the request of the teacher candidate, the cooperating teacher, the university supervisor, the seminar leader, and/or the school principal. This process is used to openly discuss any concern[s], provide assistance, and facilitate a decision regarding the concern[s]. A written teacher candidate support plan will be created to reflect the results of the meeting. See Step 1. Please Note: If a principal/administrator requests that a teacher candidate be removed from a field placement, the program chair will be contacted and the process will move immediately to Step 3.
Step 1 – Classroom Level – School
A specific, written Teacher Candidate Support Plan will be developed by the seminar leader and/or course instructor, after consultation with the program chair, to clarify the nature of the concern[s], the agreed upon outcome[s], and the timeline for implementation. Most difficulties can be resolved at the classroom level through open and professional levels of communication. A copy of the written teacher candidate support plan is posted online with access for the academic advisor, seminar leader and/or course instructor, the program chair, and the Director of Teacher Preparation. The teacher candidate support plan becomes part of the candidate’s NCE record.
Step 2 – Classroom Level – University
If the matter remains unresolved, intensifies, or is not able to be resolved without intervention from the university, the university supervisor , the cooperating teacher , the teacher candidate , and the seminar leader and/or course instructor will meet to discuss the concern[s] and review relevant information and documentation. In some cases, the principal may also be involved. Prior to a decision being made regarding continuation in the current placement, an additional observer [the seminar leader and/or course instructor, program chair, or a different NLU supervisor] may be asked to complete an observation to contribute to the record. One of the following options will then be made regarding continuation in the current placement: Option A – The teacher candidate will continue in the current placement. A new written teacher candidate support plan will be developed that outlines the continued concern[s], the agreed upon outcome[s], and the timeline for implementation. The impact of the problem[s] on the grade for the field experience will be discussed and documented in writing by the seminar leader and/or course instructor. The seminar leader and/or course instructor will inform the program chair about the concerns raised and will post a copy of all written documentation online for access by the Director of Teacher Preparation and academic advisor Option B – The teacher candidate will be removed from the current placement. If the matter warrants a change in placement or other action, the matter is referred to the program chair and moves to STEP 3. The program chair will notify the academic advisor, the Director of
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