Do students need clearances for field placements and student teaching?
Yes. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all individuals who interact with children in Pennsylvania schools to obtain three types of clearances: Act 34, Act 151, and FBI Criminal History Report. These clearances – a criminal background check, a child abuse check, and a criminal history report – are required for all Chatham field placements including observations and student teaching. In all MAT programs, field placements begin in the first term of enrollment. Therefore, students must submit these three clearances to the education department at the beginning of their program and before they register for any field placements. Negative information on any of these clearances may be cause for dismissal from the program.
Related Questions
- Does student teaching in a high need field for a low-income school count towards my time commitment in my agreement to serve?
- I don’t live near Philadelphia, or even in Pennsylvania. How do I find field experience and student teaching placements?
- Do students need clearances for field placements and student teaching?
