CCHE Changes Student Teaching Requirements

A new requirement from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education requires teacher education students to pass the state teacher certification exam before they are allowed to student teach.

Previously, students were allowed to begin student teaching after completing program requirements, but before they passed the state test, the PLACE (Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators) exam.

"The assumption is that the PLACE provides another measure of one's knowledge of content," explained Associate Dean of Education Barb Baker. "Given this assumption, passing the exam would provide some confidence to school districts that the student teacher has demonstrated this knowledge prior to their 'practice teaching' phase of the program," she said, adding that Metro State uses a number of other measures to determine readiness to student teach, including successful completion of all coursework and successful field experiences.

Last fall semester, Metro State placed 170 student teachers at 125 schools around the metro area.