Student Teaching
The professional semester consists of the student teaching course and one other required course (no other coursework may be taken during the professional semester). Students apply for student teaching one year prior to their intended student teaching semester.
Students are assigned student teaching placements within a 55-mile radius of the College. The address of each student’s residency during the student teacher semester is also taken into account when securing placements. Students are not permitted to request specific grade levels, schools, or cooperating teachers, as per the College’s agreement with local school districts. Placements are generally secured in York County school districts; however, occasionally placement schools are located in Adams, Cumberland, or Lancaster Counties. Transportation for Student Teaching is the responsibility of the student.
During student teaching, the student will put into practice skills and theories learned in the excellent courses at YCP, as well as strategies of the assigned cooperating teacher. As the student teaching semester progresses, the student teacher will acquire responsibilities until he or she has full responsibility for the entire day.
Upon successful conclusion of the professional semester, student teachers will receive a grade, a letter of recommendation from their college supervisor, and a letter of recommendation from their cooperating teacher. Additionally, completing students possessing a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply for teaching certification in their program area through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Since YCP is a Pennsylvania-approved program, if students wish to apply for out-of-state certification, it is their responsibility to work with the Department of Education of each respective state.