Student Teaching Requirements

Student Teaching Eligibility Checklist

Student teaching is the capstone of the teacher education program and occurs after all major course requirements have been met and all Praxis II and ICLA exams have been passed. During student teaching, teacher candidates steadily increase their classroom responsibilities and demonstrate competency in planning, assessment, instruction, and other professional tasks.

Student teaching is the culmination of your teacher education preparation. To be eligible for student teaching, you must:

Be admitted into the teacher education program
Meet all requirements of the program

2 Semesters Before Student Teaching

Register for Praxis II Exams
Submit Fingerprint and Background Check Forms (Processing takes 6-8 weeks)

Return submitted fingerprint and background check forms with a check made payable to: Idaho Department of Education for $28.25 no later than Friday of the 4th week of classes.

1 Semester (not including Summer) Before Student Teaching

Complete the following student teaching requirements by October 1 for the spring student teaching semester and by April 1 for the fall student teaching semester:

DegreeWorks showing all coursework is completed or in progress with a grade of C or better
All required Praxis II exams passed
All required ICLA exams passed
$50 Application fee paid
Meet with the Field Experience Coordinator

Click for a Printable Checklist

Note: Completing the application does not guarantee a student teaching placement. Final approval for student teaching is contingent upon successful completion of all application materials, earning minimum grades in classes, and passing the required ICLA and Praxis II exams.

Please view each tab below for more information:

Background Check Instructions

Complete a Background Check

A background check through the State Department of Education is required.

How to Get a Packet

Pick up a background check packet at the Kent Center
or
Request to have one mailed to you.

Submit Your Packet

Return the completed packet to the Kent Center with a check for $28.25, made payable to the State Department of Education.

Processing Time

Background checks can take 6–8 weeks, so we recommend starting as soon as possible.

Questions?

For additional background check questions contact Mahlet Asfaw at 208- 282-3807 mahletasfaw@isu.edu

Coursework Status Check

According to DegreeWorks:
All required coursework has either been completed or is currently in progress with the minimum passing grade:

Undergraduate students: C or higher
Graduate students: C+ or higher

Need More Info?

For questions about your coursework status, please contact the Kent Center at kentcenter@isu.edu

The Praxis II tests are a series of achievement tests that assess subject-matter knowledge and principles of learning and teaching. Consistent with the rules of the Idaho State Board of Education, all graduates from the Idaho State University College of Education recommended for initial Idaho certification must obtain the required passing score on the Praxis II Content Test(s) in each subject area for which they are being recommended for certification. The Idaho State Board of Education requires all candidates recommended for State of Idaho teacher certification to meet qualifying scores on the Praxis II Subject Area Test(s) in their teaching field(s).

Praxis II exams are not offered on a regular basis. You must plan ahead.

Candidates must take and pass the required Praxis II test(s) in their major and minor teaching areas by

By April 1 → for Fall Student Teaching
By October 1 → for Spring Student Teaching

Need Exam Info?

The following is the list of qualifying test scores:

Praxis II Cut Scores

The Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment (ICLA) measures the knowledge and skills needed for research-based literacy instruction. The ICLA contains four sections administered as a separate exam:

Structure of Language
Comprehension
Assessment
Writing Process and Knowledge.

Additionally, consistent with the rules of the Idaho State Board of Education, all Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education graduates from the Idaho State University College of Education recommended for the initial Idaho certification must obtain passing scores on all four sections of the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment (I. Structure of Language, II. Comprehension, III. Assessment and IV. Writing Process and Knowledge).

All Secondary Education graduates from the Idaho State University College of Education recommended for the initial Idaho certification must obtain passing scores on sections II and IV of the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment (II. Comprehension and IV. Writing Process and Knowledge).

Qualifying scores are also a graduation requirement for these teacher preparation programs. If pre-service teachers do not pass all sections the first time, only those sections without the required score must be retaken.

Studying for the ICLAs

The ICLA Concepts and Competency Guides are posted in your Praxis Study Materials Moodle Room. If you do not see the Praxis Study Materials Moodle Room in your Bengal Web, please email kentcenter@isu.edu

ICLA Exam Requirements

All Candidates Must Pass the Required ICLA Exams

Elementary Education Candidates

You must complete:

Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Secondary Education Candidates

You must complete:

Standards 2, 4, and 5

ICLA Standard 5 Deadline

ICLA Standard 5 is not tied to a course

Must be completed by:

October 1 → for Spring Student Teaching

April 1 → for Fall Student Teaching

ICLAs taken outside of ISU

If you took your ICLAs at a different university, please email your scores or letter of completion to kentcenter@isu.edu.

Retakes

Retakes are available year-round. Minimum of 45 days between testing on the same standard. Directions to register for retakes.

Recertification

The online Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Course (ICLC) will meet the needs of individuals that have their teacher certification and are required by Idaho State Department of Certification to either complete the ICLC course or successfully complete the ICLA (Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment) examinations (3).

For more information, contact the Albion Center for Professional Development at (208) 282-4838 or albion@isu.edu.

A $50 student teaching fee is required for all students pursuing a teaching degree. This fee helps cover the costs of student teacher supervision, field experience coordination, supervisor travel, and other related expenses.

Payment Deadlines

October 1 → for Spring placements
April 1 → for Fall placements

How to Pay

Please follow this link to submit your payment: ISU TouchNet Service