Attendance Requirements
Students participating in the professional internship are expected to attend the assigned placement each regular school day for the full term of the student teaching assignment, except when prevented from being at the school site by illness, death of an immediate family member, acknowledged emergency, or excused university assignment.
For all absences, students must report the absence to the Cooperating Teacher, University Supervisor, and Director of Field Experience and Clinical Practice before the beginning of the school day on the day of the absence. The first violation of this policy by traditional undergraduate candidates can result in the student losing the privilege to be excused from future participation in off-campus academic, co-curricular, or intercollegiate experiences and must be made up.
The first violation of this policy by partnership undergraduate candidates, UTEP, and MAT candidates will result in a written warning from the School of Education and must be made up. The second violation can result in removal from student teaching (all candidates).
A maximum of two (2) missed class days are allowable without penalty if proper notification is provided. Any student missing more than two (2) days, but no more than five (5) days, must fulfill student teaching responsibilities through an appropriate number of “make-up” days at the end of the semester. Regardless of the number of days missed, unreported absences must be made up.
Consecutive days of absence are only allowable due to illness or the death of an immediate family member.
If a sixth (6th) day of absence occurs for any reason, the student must submit a petition to the Director of Field Experience and Clinical Practice. The student will continue daily attendance and participation in the clinical experience pending the result of the appeal.
The calendars of assigned school districts are to be followed, including parent-teacher conferences, workshops, faculty meetings, and other activities that are considered part of a normal faculty load. These activities and tasks may include short and long-term planning and preparation, daily grading, preparation of report cards, and participation in parent- teacher conferences and Open House.