Student inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and other non-discrimination policies are to be referred to the Gannon University Title IX Coordinator, Susan Majocka, Beyer Hall

Students will be removed from a field experience if the Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor determine that the field student’s performance is unsatisfactory.

Required Clearances, Trainings, and Testing

Prior to beginning the first field experience, all students enrolled as Education majors and students enrolled in an education minor must complete clearances, training, and testing mandated by the Pennsylvania School Code and the Diocese of Erie. • If a student is continuously enrolled in an education preparation program, the criminal background, child abuse and fingerprint information originally submitted shall remain valid for 60 months unless a field site requires clearances that are less than one year old when the field experience ends. Complete details are available in the School of Education office or on our website. Candidates whose clearances are not on file during the first month of the semester in which they are enrolled for their first field experience will be required to drop the course from their schedules. Out-of-state candidates are also subject to background checks and must follow the same directions as residents of Pennsylvania. Act 34 Criminal History Record Check: The application for this clearance is available online only. Go to https://epatch.state.pa.us and click on “Submit a New Record Check.” Once the application has been completed, be certain to print the official clearance found under the heading “PA State Police Response for Criminal Record Check.” Further details are available in the School of Education office or website. Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance: The online application form can be found at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS. There is also a mail-in form available. Under the heading “Purpose of Clearance,” select “School Employee.” Online applicants will receive their clearance by mail within 14 days. For mailed applications, the clearance may take three to six weeks to receive. Act 114 Fingerprinting Clearance: The fingerprint requirement includes all university students who are in a public or private school on field experiences of any type. Fingerprinting must be done in Pennsylvania, following these directions: 1. Go to https://uenroll.identogo.com and use service code 1KG6RT. This service code is unique to Gannon. Do not use this code for another purpose. a. Choose PDE under the category, Choose Your Agency. b. When applying for clearances for field placements, choose PDE – Colleges/Universities Teacher Education Program under the category, Select Your Reason for Fingerprinting

=PDE-.

If applying for clearances for student teaching, choose PDE-School Districts under the category, Select Your Reason for Fingerprinting. 2. Once the service code appears, click Continue; then, click Schedule or Manage

Appointment. 3. Follow the on-screen directions and fill in the personal information. a. Applicants are required to choose the official document they will bring to the fingerprinting center. 4. Choose the location for a fingerprinting appointment. a. Applicants can create an appointment or can select Walk In. 5. Next, access to a service summary will be provided. Print the service summary.

6. Fee requirements can be found on the Identogo website and can be paid online, using a money order or credit card. Payment may also be made at the fingerprinting center, using a money order or credit card. Act 82 Arrest/Conviction Certification Form: The Arrest or Conviction Report and Certification Form associated with Act 82 must be completed by Education students prior to participation in classroom teaching, clinical or field experience. The Act 82 form is completed annually. See the form for all reportable offenses. The form is available in the School of Education office. Act 126 Child Abuse Training (3-hours): The training includes recognition of the signs of abuse, mandatory reporting requirements, maintenance of professional and appropriate relationships with students, etc. ACT 126 training can be completed online free of charge at www.reportabuse.pa.pitt.edu. Protection of Children and Youth Training, Diocese of Erie: All School of Education students must have completed the adult online Creating a Safe Environment training session prior to the first field experience. The two-hour training is offered free of charge at www.eriercd. org/protectyouth.htm. Important notes: 1) Do not use Internet Explorer as the browser 2) Connection to a printer is required 3) Print two copies of the certificate of completion, one for the School of Education and one to keep for a personal file. Tuberculosis Test: Prior to the first field experience, students must submit a valid negative tuberculin test certificate to the School of Education office. The certificate must be less than oneyear old at the time of submission. Arrangements for the test are the responsibility of the student.

Student Teaching Requirements

Student teaching is a capstone experience. To qualify for student teaching, teacher candidates must have met or exceeded all program requirements. In addition, candidates for student teaching must do the following: • Demonstrate acceptance into the School of Education. • Apply for student teaching one year prior to beginning the experience. • Demonstrate overall satisfactory ratings in professional dispositions. • Apply and submit clearances that will be less than one-year old by the end of the student teaching experience. • Have a valid negative TB test on file in the School of Education prior to the first day of student teaching. Arrangements for the test are the responsibility of the teacher candidate. If candidates are graduating in the semester of their student teaching experience, they are encouraged to complete the content specific exams designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education prior to student teaching. Passage of these exams is not a graduation requirement, but passage is required before Level I teaching certification can be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Individuals Returning for Initial Certification

Individuals with a BA or BS degree who are returning for certification must apply and be accepted through the University’s Center for Adult Learning and meet all criteria for admission to the School of Education. Post-baccalaureate teacher candidates are not responsible for meeting the basic skills requirements, but they must complete the School of Education application.

Exit Criteria

Undergraduate students must complete all graduation requirements for a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or greater in all coursework. Post-baccalaureate students must complete all requirements as indicated on their Program of Study with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or greater in all coursework.