Students apply for a special site student teaching placement by completing a Special Site Request form with an ISIS grade report print out attached and submitting it to their program area (as directed on the top of the request form).

• Minimal grade point average needed for approval, Elementary students should have a minimum 3.20 U of I g.p.a. and overall, with a 3.5 g.p.a. in the program area, Secondary students should have a minimum  3.20 U of I g.p.a. and in their program area.  Additionally students need to have demonstrated reliability, responsibility and initiative in program coursework and field experiences. Consideration may be given to applicants below the minimum g.p.a. requirement.
• Additional application steps are required for English Education students interested in special site placement that include a written 500-800 word rationale describing reason(s) for a special site placement.
• Elementary Strat I applicants are required to complete a local student teaching placement. No special site placement options for Elementary Strat I.
• Students must attend an informational Four O'Clock Meeting held the 4th week of the semester prior to the student teaching semester at which time information relative to their preferred special site is described in detail.
• Once approved for a special site student teaching placement, students must remain cognizant of the student teaching placement reality that while the Field Experiences Coordinators will be professional and diligent in initiating appropriate placement requests all placements are made at the discretion of the hosting institution (i.e., the college/university, district, school).
• Although a special site request form is submitted the student must indicate local placement preferences at the time of completing their student teaching application materials in the event that their special site request is not approved, or a placement at their requested special site can not be confirmed. 

Des Moines

• Regular Supervision is available in the Des Moines area for a limited number of elementary and secondary placements.
• Information relative to requesting specific districts/individual schools is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• All placements are made at the districts’/individual schools’ discretion. 

Iowa Regents Placements

• Placements at locations regularly used by Iowa State University and The University of Northern Iowa (Ames, Clear Lake, Council Bluffs/Omaha, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls).
• Information relative to requesting specific areas of the state/districts/individual schools is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• Availability of Iowa Regents Placements is at the discretion of the hosting institution (i.e., ISU and UNI). 

Chicago Area

• Students must attend an informational Four O'Clock Meeting held the 4th week of the semester prior to the student teaching semester at which time information relative to their preferred special site is described in detail.
• Placements are primarily made in the western, northwestern, and northern suburbs.
• Placements in the Chicago Public Schools are not an option at this time.
• Information relative to requesting specific Chicago districts/individual schools is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• When possible, placements are clustered to allow for adequate supervision.
• All placements are made at the districts’/individual schools’ discretion; prior volunteering in a district/school enhances the possibility of placement.  Such networking is strongly encouraged. 

Rockford Public Schools 205 (Rockford, IL)

• RPS provides a diverse teaching experience in an urban setting. The district has 41 schools with 70 spoken languages. Rockford is the 5^th most populous city in Illinois.
• Rockford offers two student teaching options.
• Aspiring Teachers- for FALL student teachers only
  • This is a one-year program. Students experience a full school year with the same class. 
  • Student teachers would student teach in the classroom for the fall semester and be hired as a non-certified employee for the spring in the same classroom.
  • Student teacher will be paid a $20,000.00 stipend for the year and receive a furnished apartment. A three-year commitment is required if utilizing the housing option.
• Traditional Student Teaching- Fall or Spring semesters.
  • Student teach for one semester in RPS 205.
  • A stipend of $6250.00 and a furnished apartment will be provided.
  • No commitment past the student teaching semester.
• * For both the Aspiring Teachers and Traditional Student Teaching, students must be approved to go Special Sites by the U of I AND apply and be accepted by RPS. Openings are limited! More information about RPS can be found at rps205.com Questions can be directed to Jason Pope at jasonpope@rps205.com

Aldine Independent School District (Houston, TX)

• Aldine ISD is located approximately 17 miles north of downtown Houston and encompasses more than 111 square miles of land, both urban and rural.
• The district has steadily increasing student population, with 72,000+ students in over 80 campuses, making it one of the largest districts in Texas.
• This partnership provides UI student teachers quality placements and supervision in a district with a diverse population, and strives to afford students who successfully complete their student teaching experience in the partnership job opportunities in the district.
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements, with students typically choosing to live in apartments recommended by “Apartment Directions,” an apartment locating service familiar with the partnership program. To help deflect the cost of student teaching, Aldine will offer a Student Teaching Stipend of $3750.00 at the end of the 16 week student teaching experience. $1875.00 for an 8 week placement.
• The Aldine Student Teaching Partnership is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• For more information, visit the Aldine ISD website.

(Additional information available in notebook files in N201 LC.)

Eastern Carver County Schools District 112 (draws from Chaska, Chanhassen, Carver and Victoria, MN)

In the suburbs of Minneapolis

• • Serves about 72% of the student-age population in Chanhassen
• • The district consists of eight elementary schools plus a Dual Language elementary (Spanish), three middle schools (6-8) and 2 high schools (9-12).
• • Regular supervision is available for a limited number of placements.
• • Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.
• • Information relative to requesting placement at District 112 is described at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• • More information can be found at http://www.district112.org/

Eden Prairie Schools (Eden Prairie, MN) VERY limited placements - this is an option only for those who have a direct connection to Eden Prairie.

• Eden Prairie is 12 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis in Hennepin County.
• The district consists of six elementary schools (including a Spanish Immersion School), one middle school (7-8) and one high school (9-12).
• Regular supervision is available for a limited number of placements.
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.
• Information relative to requesting placement at Eden Prairie is described at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• More information at Eden Prairie Schools.

International Placements

• International placements comprise the second half of a student’s student teaching semester, with the first eight weeks being completed in a stateside placement. If approved by the program area for such an arrangement, students can complete the first half of their student teaching at one of the special site placement sites described above (i.e., Des Moines, Iowa Regents, Chicago, Aldine, Rialto).
• The eight-week stateside/eight-week international placement option is not an option approved by the English program area. Students in the English program area are required to complete a 16-week stateside placement. An international experience would be an additional seven-/eight-week experience.
• International placements are made through Indiana University Global Gateway for Teachers, Dr. Laura Stachowski, Director, Cultural Immersion Projects, Indiana University.
• School Placements are arranged by Host Nation Consultants, experienced educators in the respective countries who make the school placements and are available as needed for consultation throughout the placement.
• Placements are available in Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England and Wales, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, and Spain (Avila), with students having the opportunity to identify the country (and when possible the area of the country) desired.
• Participants choose between commercial accommodations (hostels, bed and breakfasts) and board and room (home stays).
• The application process is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• Placement details typically are received near the end of the semester prior to student teaching, or during the break between sessions. Placements in certain countries may not be confirmed until the first few weeks of the student teaching semester.
• Expenses include a $300 placement fee payable to Indiana University, Global Gateway for Teachers, tuition (about the same as for students not participating in the program), transportation to/from the country of placement, and living expenses (housing/transportation/food in the host country, spending money).
• Secondary student teachers must complete their international experience in an English speaking country (like Ireland, New Zealand or Australia). Students who are fluent in the host country’s language (as in fluent enough to instruct, for example, in Spanish) may select a non-English speaking country. Secondary students completing their ELL endorsement during their international student teaching experience may have more options in their country selection.
• Students are typically placed in the following countries: Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. England has a difficult VISA process and costs around $1300.

(Additional information available in notebook files in N201 LC.)

• Placements in areas where UI student teaching partnerships/programs are not established.
• Exceptional Circumstances placements require a formal appeal at the time of applying to student teach (a year prior to the student teaching semester).
• Appeals are submitted to the Director of Student Field Experiences and include a letter describing the compelling need for an Exceptional Circumstances Placement (e.g., family relocation) and a current transcript.
• Appeals are reviewed and approved or denied by a faculty committee the semester prior to student teaching.
• Approved Exceptional Circumstances Placements require a $300 placement fee. 
• Exceptional circumstances will be considered for state-side placements only.
• The reason for requesting should be exceptional. Wanting to student teach in a particular district in order to get hired there or wanting to live at home to save money are not considered exceptional circumstances.