Student Teaching

Student teachers are paired with a Cooperating Teacher who supports and mentors daily. Cooperating Teachers have at least three years of teaching experience and a clear credential in the same credential area as the student teacher they are supporting.

Student teachers get the opportunity to observe their Cooperating Teacher and other teachers at the school site. Student teachers will learn from these experienced teachers who model different styles and strategies.

Student teachers work closely with their Cooperating Teacher. Student teachers must develop skills to collaborate professionally, engage in healthy debate, and navigate difficult conversations. Doing so in the student teaching environment prepares student teachers for the collaborative relationship required when working with fellow grade level teachers, subject specific teams, or classroom support staff.

Student teachers ease into the process of teaching beginning with observation, followed by practice lessons, part-time teaching, and then solo teaching. This stepwise approach will support the establishment of comfort and confidence in the classroom.

Student teachers will have at least 4 weeks of co-teaching/solo teaching. During this time, student teachers will have the opportunity to experience the full scope of teaching from beginning to end of the day including tasks such as grading.

In addition to the daily feedback given by the Cooperating Teacher, student teachers are assigned a University Supervisor. University Supervisors are current or retired teachers, professors, and administrators who visit the Student Teacher on site every other week for support and feedback.

The Student Teacher Stipend Program (STSP), established under California Assembly Bill 121, provides eligible student teachers with a $10,000 stipend to support them during their clinical practice/student teaching experience.

This program is funded through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and is designed to reduce financial barriers for teacher candidates completing their credential requirements.

Important: Stipend funds are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Early action is strongly encouraged.

To qualify for the STSP, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in one of the following credential programs:
• Preliminary Multiple Subject
• Preliminary Single Subject
• Education Specialist: Mild to Moderate Support Needs
• Dual Credential
• Begin student teaching on or after July 1, 2026
• Complete 500 or more hours of student teaching as part of your credential program's clinical practice
• Be placed at a participating LEA (Local Educational Agency) — such as a school district, charter school, or county office of education — that has an approved MOU with the University of Redlands. See the Active Partnership List for more information.

The following candidates do not qualify for the STSP:

• Candidates serving on an intern credential
• Teacher residents supported by Teacher Residency Grant stipends under Education Code Section 44415.5
• Candidates pursuing a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential or School Counseling credential
• Candidates who began student teaching before July 1, 2026

The University of Redlands works hard to connect teacher candidates with partner districts, but placements are made by the districts themselves—not the University. The University submits placement requests on your behalf but cannot guarantee a specific placement or a stipend-eligible placement.

Not all districts participate in the STSP. Only districts that have an approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Redlands and have elected to participate in the grant program are eligible to disburse stipends. If you are placed in a district that is not participating in the STSP, you will not be eligible to receive the $10,000 stipend, regardless of whether you meet all other eligibility requirements.

See the Active Partnership List to explore districts currently participating in the STSP. The partnership list is updated regularly as additional districts opt to participate and complete the required agreement process. If your preferred district is not on the list, check back periodically and speak with your University advisor to discuss your options. Keep in mind that the University cannot guarantee placement in a participating district.

The STSP is funded by a limited annual pool of up to $100 million. Grant funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. This means:

• Districts that apply early are more likely to secure funding for their student teachers
• There is no guarantee that funds will be available for all eligible candidates
• Candidates interested in a stipend-eligible placement should communicate their interest in their student teaching application.

Here's a step-by-step overview of how the STSP works once students are approved for student teaching:

Please note: The University of Redlands notifies the district of your eligibility, but it is the district's responsibility to process and disburse your payment. Compensation timelines and disbursement methods will vary by district. Contact your placement district directly for questions about payment.

The stipend is intended to support you during your student teaching experience. The term or semester in which you first begin clinical practice is when you will receive your stipend.

• If you complete student teaching across multiple terms or sites, the first LEA where you are placed is responsible for disbursing the full $10,000 stipend.
• Stipend timing and payment schedules are determined by the district and may vary.

As a student teacher interested in the STSP, you are responsible for:

• Submitting a student teaching application by the set deadline. See the Student Teaching webpage for more information.
•  Checking the Active Partnership List: Review which districts are participating in the STSP before you provide a list of desired districts.
• Staying informed: monitor communications from the Office of Licensures and Credentialing regarding placement or stipend status.
• Following up with your district: once placed, contact your district's HR or payroll office to confirm stipend processing timelines
• Maintaining eligibility: ensure you are enrolled in an eligible credential program and meet all CTC requirements

Q: Can I apply for the stipend directly? No. Candidates do not apply directly. The University of Redlands initiates the process by entering your information into the CTC grants management system, and the district completes the application.

Q: What if my preferred district is not on the Active Partnership List? Not all districts participate in the STSP. We strongly encourage you to review the Active Partnership List before submitting your placement preferences so you can prioritize stipend-eligible districts.

Q: Can I rank stipend-eligible districts in my placement application? Yes! When you apply to the Teacher Preparation Program, you will have the opportunity to rank your preferred placement districts. If you want to be considered for the stipend, rank participating districts at the top of your preferences.

Q: What if none of my preferred districts are on the Active Partnership List? If none of your ranked districts participate in the STSP — or if placement in a participating district is not possible — the University will attempt to place you in a stipend-eligible district whenever feasible. However, this cannot be guaranteed.

Q: Can I change my district placement to qualify for the stipend? No. Once you have been placed in a district, your placement is final for stipend purposes. The University is unable to facilitate a district change in order to qualify for or retain stipend eligibility. This is why your district preferences matter from the very start.

Q: What if I didn't indicate a district preference? If no preference is indicated, the University will make every effort to place you in a stipend-eligible district from the Active Partnership List whenever possible.

Q: What if funds run out before I begin student teaching? Because funding is first-come, first-served, there is no guarantee that funds will be available for every eligible candidate. This is why early communication with your advisor is critical.

Q: Will I receive the full $10,000? The authorized stipend amount is $10,000. However, disbursement processes and timelines vary by district. Contact your placement district for specifics.

Q: Does my credential program qualify? The STSP covers candidates in Preliminary Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Education Specialist, and PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist programs. PPS and intern credential candidates are not eligible.

Q: What if I don’t complete all required fieldwork hours during my student teaching semester? Eligibility requirements include that student teachers must complete 500 hours of student teaching to be eligible for the stipend. Contact the LEA at which you were placed if you have an extenuating circumstance.

CTC's Subject Matter Competency Requirement must be met in order to apply for student teaching. See the methods to meet Subject Matter Competency.

For students using examination to meet Subject Matter Competency, all CSET exams must be passed prior to the student teaching application deadline for the semester that they plan to student teach. We do not make exceptions for CSET exams or extend the application deadline because CSETs have not been passed. Students should be aware of CSET test release dates and plan accordingly so that CSET results are received prior to the application deadline.

Students can take a Leave of Absence (LOA) until they are able to pass their CSETs. Students can remain on an LOA for up to one year. If students are gone for more than one year, they have to be readmitted to the school. This is a good option for students who are struggling to balance the load of coursework and the additional time to study for CSETs. It will give them a moment to pause from the program and focus on their exams. This option will extend their program length. If a student plans to take an LOA, they should contact their designated academic advisor.

TB skin tests expire after 2 years, and chest x-ray exams expire after 5 years. The TB needs to remain current during student teaching/interning and when applying for the Preliminary Credential.

All student teachers must have a valid CPR certificate that covers infants, children, and adults. It needs to remain current during student teaching and when applying for the Preliminary Credential. Students should check the expiration date on the CPR card to ensure that it will not expire while they are in the field. If it will expire, it needs to be renewed for the student teaching application.

After the student teaching application closes, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) will review the applications to determine if students meet the requirements to advance to student teaching.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all required documents have been submitted. Late documents will not be accepted, and incomplete applications will be denied.

Once applications are reviewed, OLC will send student teaching placement requests to the preferred districts indicated in the application. Districts will then contact schools/principals, who will then reach out to individual teachers. This is a slow process. OLC is typically securing placements for 150+ student teachers each semester, and the placement process takes months. OLC will provide all students with placement status update emails. Once a placement has been confirmed by the district, the OLC will notify the student of their student teaching placement details via email.

Students may not coordinate their own student teaching placements. All student teaching placements are coordinated through the Office of Licensures and Credentialing with partnered schools/districts. Every effort will be made to place a student in a preferred district indicated in their student teaching application.

Student teaching placements will not be made where there is a potential conflict of interest. This includes being at a school site where a relative works, children attend, or where students have been previously employed (not including substitute teaching). The conflict of interest policy does not apply to substitute teaching positions.

Students need to indicate any conflict of interest with the districts they are requesting on their student teaching application. Having a conflict of interest at one school site does not mean a student can't be placed in that district. OLC will seek a placement at a school site in the district where there is not a conflict of interest.

No. The Office of Licensures and Credentialing expects that all student teachers benefit from diverse training and education that is not based on previous relationships. This is to assure that previously established biases (positive or negative) would not impact student teachers during their fieldwork.

OLC will not place students in a virtual student teaching placement.