Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) CEAS educator preparation programs shall assign to clinical practice candidates in the preparation program who have completed the following minimum clinical experience requirements:
1. Prior to starting clinical practice, all candidates shall have completed at least 50 hours of clinical experiences in a preschool, elementary, middle, and/or secondary school setting.
2. The clinical experiences shall:
i. Be incorporated into any higher education course taken prior to the start of clinical practice;
ii. Include at least two different classroom settings, with at least one in a special education setting, consisting of a classroom where students with IEPs are educated: either an inclusive setting, resource room, or a special classroom; and
iii. Increase in intensity, or control of the students, and duration as the candidate advances through the program.
(b) Clinical practice shall:
1. Occur during at least two semesters, according to the placement school district's schedule, including professional development days with the school district prior to the first day of class for students;
2. Occur at the same school site for the entire experience, if possible; and
3. Include at least 175 hours prior to one full-time semester. At least 100 hours of the 175 hours shall be completed throughout the semester immediately preceding the semester of full-time clinical practice.
(c) The candidate shall be placed within the endorsement subject that the candidate will pursue for certification. The candidate shall be under the direct and continuous personal supervision of an appropriately certified cooperating teacher.
(d) School districts shall be responsible for accepting and placing clinical interns as part of the continuum of professional education and development.
(e) A clinical supervisor shall:
1. Have had experience supervising, consulting, or otherwise working in an elementary or secondary school in contact with classroom teachers within the previous two years for all instructional certificate programs with the exception of the preschool endorsement. For preschool programs, the supervisor shall have had experience supervising, consulting, or otherwise working in an early childhood setting; and
2. Be employed by the program or university with demonstrated expertise in the field the individual is supervising.
(f) Clinical supervisors shall observe each assigned candidate at least once every other week during the candidate's semester of full-time clinical practice.
(g) A cooperating teacher assigned to guide and direct candidates shall:
1. Be approved by the chief school administrator, or the chief school administrator's designee, with input from the candidate's CEAS educator preparation program;
2. Have a minimum of three years of teaching experience, including one within the school district;
3. Possess a standard instructional certificate;
4. Have an appropriate certificate that coincides with the area of instruction for which the candidate is being prepared;
5. Be a full-time school district faculty member with demonstrated expertise in the field of mentoring/supervision; and
6. Be rated, beginning August 1, 2016, as effective or highly effective on the cooperating teacher's most recently received summative evaluation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:10-4.
i. A cooperating teacher in a school or school district not required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:10-1 to issue summative evaluations shall demonstrate at least one year of effective teaching on the cooperating teacher's most recent evaluation, as determined by the cooperating teacher's supervisor.
(h) Cooperating teachers shall:
1. Provide continuous guidance and direction and weekly conferences to assist candidates in professional development; and
2. Consult with the chief school administrator, or the chief school administrator's designee, regarding the candidate's placement; however, the chief school administrator, or the chief school administrator's designee, shall make all final placement decisions regarding candidate and cooperating teacher pairings.
(i) CEAS educator preparation programs shall make available to cooperating teachers professional development opportunities and experiences that increase cooperating teachers' expertise in the field.
