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    Out-of-State Field Experience Placement Policy

    Effective January 1, 2025, PDE-approved educator preparation programs must notify the Pennsylvania Department of Education Division of Professional Education and Teacher Quality before allowing an education candidate to fulfill part of Pennsylvania regulatory requirements for the Instructional I or Education Specialist certificate (22 Pa. Code § 354.25(f)) at an entity outside Pennsylvania. This includes field experiences (i.e., student teaching, internships, and clinical experiences) in an entity in another state or country.

    An educator preparation program must submit an Out-Of-State/Out-Of-Country Placement Notification Form for each candidate that will have an out-of-state or out-of-country field experience in the academic year (September 1–August 30). Notification forms should be submitted before the out-of-state field experience, ideally as soon as the student requests an out-of-state placement.

    By completing the notification form, a PDE-approved educator preparation program is assuring that:

    1. At least 50 percent of the candidate’s field experience will be completed at a Pennsylvania school;
    2. No more than 50 percent of the candidate’s field experience will be completed at an out-of-state or out-of-country entity;
    3. The combination of in-state and out-of-state field experiences will fulfill Pennsylvania regulatory requirements for the preparation of professional educators (22 Pa. Code § Chapter 354);
    4. The field experience will be fully supported by the educator preparation program’s faculty;
    5. The educator preparation program will assign a knowledgeable supervisor to oversee the candidate’s out-of-state field experience;
    6. The cooperating teacher is appropriately trained by the educator preparation program and meets the following criteria (22 Pa. Code § 354.25(f)):
      a.  Holds a Pennsylvania certification or appropriate equivalent professional educator certification in the subject area being pursued by the candidate;
      b.    Has at least three years of satisfactory certificated experience in the subject area being pursued by the candidate; and
      c.    Has at least one year of certificated experience in the subject area being pursued by the candidate in the school entity where the candidate is being placed;
    7. The educator preparation program is aware that PDE may request information on the qualifications of cooperating teachers used for the out-of-state placement; and
    8. Before starting the out-of-state field experience, the educator preparation program will inform the candidate about how the placement may affect their financial aid status and professional licensure, if applicable.

    Student teachers benefit from regular contact with supervisors, cooperating teachers, and peers during field experiences. Therefore, out-of-state placements should be exceptions, as educator preparation programs must ensure students meet Pennsylvania's certification requirements.