External Student Teaching Preliminary Approval Packet
434-592-5056
Fax: 434-582-2468
uteachexternal@liberty.edu
www.liberty.edu/education
Requirements for External Student Teaching
Student teaching in an external placement is considered a privilege (not an automatic right) and only
granted to those teacher candidates who show exemplary scholarship, professionalism, and Christian
conduct. The requirements for student teaching candidates seeking an external placement are as
follows:
1. Full acceptance into the Teacher Licensure Program
2. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above is required (including the semester prior to student teaching)
3. Grades of B or above in all professional education courses including subject area methods
courses (including the semester prior to student teaching)
4. All required licensure tests (Praxis I, VCLA, RVE/VRA, Praxis II) must be passed by the due
date of the Gate 3 application.
5. The External Student Teaching Preliminary Approval Packet forms are complete, accurate,
signed (or emailed) by the appropriate faculty.
6. Faculty Affirmation - A passing vote of affirmation from all Teacher Education faculty members
(votes taken in a Teacher Education Department Meeting). The affirmation vote will endorse the
candidate’s competence, work ethic, attitude, professionalism, and general ability to succeed in
an external placement.
Types of External Student Teaching Available
1. International Student Teaching (outside the U.S.)
2. National Student teaching in the U.S. (but NOT in Central Virginia)
INTERNATIONAL - External Student Teaching (Outside U.S.)
Because student teaching overseas offers the inherent value of experiencing another culture, which is
consistent with the current educational emphasis on global citizenship, Liberty University has made
arrangements for a limited number of external placements in foreign countries. Placements must be
completed in an accredited public, private, and/or Christian school.
The External Student Teaching Preliminary Approval Packet for international/overseas placements
must be submitted with the Gate 3 Application to LiveText (due by Sep. 15 for a Spring placement and
Feb. 15 for a Fall placement).
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NATIONAL - External student teaching (Within U.S.)
Candidates have two options for completing student teaching within the United States. They may
1. Choose an accredited public, private, and/or Christian school anywhere in the United States.
(Accrediting bodies may include ACSI, AACS, WASC, SACS, etc.) Accreditation (not
membership) is required.
2. "LOCAL" public school placements in Central Virginia MUST go through the Field Placement
Office. "LOCAL" placements would include the following areas: Amherst County, Appomattox
County, Bedford County, Campbell County, Danville City, Lynchburg City, Nelson County,
Pittsylvania County, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem City.
Gate 3 Application Deadlines
Applications for external placements within the U.S. must be submitted by:

Sep. 15th for a Spring student teaching placement OR

Feb. 15th for a Fall student teaching placement
May I contact the school to begin making initial arrangements for my placement?
Some school systems do not permit students to make direct contact or request. If your preferred school
system is listed on this site, you will need to allow the External Field Office to submit the request on
your behalf. Please review the list of schools as found here:
http://www.liberty.edu/academics/education/teacher/index.cfm?PID=25664. If your preferred school
system is not listed on this site, please initiate discussion with the school system for arranging your
placement.
After initial arrangements, each student teaching placement will be officially requested and approved by
the External Field Office. (Teacher candidates should gather information, but the placement must be
officially approved by the Teacher Education Department.) The external placement school must be
accredited and the cooperating teacher(s) must be certified in the appropriate subject area with a
minimum of three years of teaching experience. The on-site supervisor must hold at least a master's
degree and must have classroom teaching experience. Each student teacher will also be assigned to a
university supervisor for weekly online contact. The teacher candidate is responsible for transportation
as well as room and board.
What forms do I need to submit?
1. INFORMATION FORMS: Complete the “Candidate Information Sheet and Placement
Information Sheet” packet. Packet can be found attached to the LiveText Gate 3
Application. Forms should be reattached to the LiveText application once completed.
2. REFERENCE FORMS: Deliver the reference forms to the appropriate faculty members
and the faculty members will return the forms to the Field Team.
Reference Forms
Applicants for external student teaching must demonstrate the level of spiritual and professional
maturity required to function with less direct support from the campus faculty. Please type the required
information in the following reference pages; the rationale section should explain where you would like
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to student teach and the reason for choosing this external placement. After typing and completing the
forms, you will need to print, sign, and deliver them to the faculty members. Each faculty member will
fill out the recommendation section and return the form to the Field Team for you! Do NOT ask for the
Reference Form back because it must be taken to the Field Team by the faculty member.
Required Reference Forms:
1. Education Professor
2. Education Professor (300 level courses) for Elementary, Special Ed, and Dual Majors OR
Content Professor (for Secondary Majors)
3. Education Program Coordinator
NOTE: The Reference Forms #1 and #2 must be completed by faculty members who have served as
your instructor for a minimum of one full semester.
Informational Meeting
There will be a mandatory Informational Meeting the semester before the placement begins. Be sure to
make plans to attend this important meeting where you will be notified of specific requirements you
must fulfill during your student teaching placement. This meeting generally takes place on Reading
Day.
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Request to Student Teach in an External Placement
Reference Form #1: Education Professor
Note: The professor must have served as the candidate’s instructor for a minimum of one full semester.
This section to be filled in by the candidate:
Applicant’s Name:
ID:
Applicant’s Signature:
Cumulative GPA:
Date:
ST Semester:
Rationale:
The section to be filled in by the Faculty Member:
_____ Yes _____ No : The candidate completes work thoroughly, promptly, and consistently. The candidate
displays exemplary work ethic and is self motivated to complete all assignments.
_____ Yes _____ No : The candidate communicates well in person and in online environments.
_____ Yes _____ No : The candidate demonstrates good character, attitude, and a willingness to follow
instructions and submit to authority.
Please check a box below:
I highly recommend that this
applicant be approved for
external student teaching.
I recommend with reservation
that this applicant be approved
for external student teaching.
Please comment below.
I do not recommend that this
applicant be approved for
external student teaching.
Please comment below.
Comments: _________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Faculty Member (Print): ______________________________
Faculty Signature: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________
NOTE: Dear Faculty Member: Do NOT return this form to the candidate. Please promptly
return this form to TE 102 or email it to uteachexternal@liberty.edu!
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Request to Student Teach in an External Placement
Reference Form #2:
Education Professor -- 300 level courses (for Elementary, Special
Ed, and Dual Majors) or Content Professor (for Secondary Majors)
Note: The professor must have served as the candidate’s instructor for a minimum of one full semester.
This section to be filled in by the candidate:
Applicant’s Name:
ID:
Applicant’s Signature:
Cumulative GPA:
Date:
ST Semester:
Rationale:
The section to be filled in by the Faculty Member:
_____ Yes _____ No : The candidate completes work thoroughly, promptly, and consistently. The candidate
displays exemplary work ethic and is self motivated to complete all assignments.
_____ Yes _____ No : The candidate communicates well in person and in online environments.
_____ Yes _____ No : The candidate demonstrates good character, attitude, and a willingness to follow
instructions and submit to authority.
Please check a box below:
I highly recommend that this
applicant be approved for
external student teaching.
I recommend with reservation
that this applicant be approved
for external student teaching.
Please comment below.
I do not recommend that this
applicant be approved for
external student teaching.
Please comment below.
Comments: _________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Faculty Name (Print): ___________________________________
Faculty Signature: _____________________________________
Date: ____________________
NOTE: Dear Faculty Member: Do NOT return this form to the candidate. Please promptly
return this form to TE 102 or email it to uteachexternal@liberty.edu!
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Request to Student Teach in an External Placement
Reference Form #3:
Education Program Coordinator
(DIRECTIONS: The candidate submits this form to the Program Coordinator well BEFORE the ST application is
due. The Program Coordinator will save the form until the Official Department Meeting when external
placements are addressed. The Program Coordinator will then complete the form and confirm the final decision.)
This section to be filled in by the candidate:
Applicant’s Name:
ID:
Applicant’s Signature:
Cumulative GPA:
Date:
ST Semester:
Rationale:
The section to be filled in by the Program Coordinator:
Please check a box below:
I highly recommend that this
applicant be approved for
external student teaching.
I recommend with reservation
that this applicant be approved
for external student teaching.
Please comment below.
I do not recommend that this
applicant be approved for
external student teaching.
Please comment below.
Comments: _________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_____ Yes _____ No : I have checked on this candidate to ensure that he/she received full Faculty Affirmation
in a Teacher Education department meeting. (NOTICE: This form is not due until after
the official department meeting when external placements are addressed.)
FINAL DECISION: _________ Accepted _____________ Denied
Program Coordinator Signature: _________________________________
Date: ____________________
NOTE: Dear Faculty Member: Do NOT return this form to the candidate. Please promptly
return this form to TE 102 or email it to uteachexternal@liberty.edu!
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External Student Teaching Guidelines
This information is unique to those who have an external student teaching placement. Please continue to follow
all of the guidelines stated in the Student Teaching Handbook unless otherwise stated here.
Guidelines for Student Teachers
 Follow the work schedule of your Cooperating Teacher and be sure to complete all of the required hours
for student teaching.
 Videotape a minimum of one lesson per placement to be viewed by the University Supervisor.
 Communicate and conference with your Cooperating Teacher every two weeks and maintain a log of
these conferences and any other conferences that are needed.
 Communicate with your University Supervisor via e-mail every week in addition to any other conferences
that are needed.
 Participate in seminar discussions and lessons every week during your student teaching experience.
 Submit all paperwork by the deadlines outlined in the attached timeline.
Guidelines for Cooperating Teachers
 Communicate progress every two weeks with the On-Site Supervisor.
 Conference with the Student Teacher every two weeks.
 Communicate with the University Supervisor weekly and notify him/her of any concerns.
 Complete and sign the following three documents in accordance with the timeline enclosed: 1.) Stipend
Form, 2.) the student teacher’s Preliminary, and 3.) Final Assessments. The assessment links will be
mailed to the Cooperating Teacher a few days before the due date using the email address provided on the
Stipend Request Form.
Guidelines for On-Site Supervisors
On-Site Supervisors are unique to our students in external placement. Your role is to serve as support to the
Cooperating Teacher. The On-Site Supervisor will:
 View the Training Materials at www.liberty.edu/education (Found under Teaching Links).
 Conduct two formal observations per placement with the Student Teacher.
 Communicate with the Cooperating Teacher every two weeks to determine if there are problems,
questions, or concerns that need to be addressed.
 Sign the Student Teacher’s Introductory, Preliminary, and Final Assessments completed by the
Cooperating Teacher.
 Complete and submit a Program Evaluation, Stipend Request form upon completion of the placement.
Guidelines for University Supervisors
In addition to all of the duties outlined in the Student Teaching Handbook, the University Supervisor will:
 E-mail the Student Teacher to discuss placement, schedule, and deadlines for videotaped lessons.
 Communicate with the Student Teacher and On-Site Supervisor
 Communicate with the Field Experience Director to be sure the Student Teacher is participating in the
distance student teaching seminar as well as inform the Field Experience Director of any questions or
concerns.
 Observe the videotaped lessons with attached lesson plans; the Student Teacher should receive prompt
feedback.
 Communicate deadlines to everyone and be sure all paperwork is being submitted in a timely manner.
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