A professional education candidate must demonstrate the highest professional standards when placed in the field for student teaching. This expectation is indicated by the school's acceptance of the candidate under a signed contract with Ball State University. The student teacher is expected to conform to established school policies, to insure student safety and well being, and to exhibit professional educational practices that conform to the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Model Principles for Beginning Teacher Licensing, Assessment and Development. When it appears that a candidate is seriously deficient in meeting these expectations, a request may be made by the school or by  the university supervisor to terminate the student teaching assignment and remove the candidate from the school. Reasons for dismissal from student teaching may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lack of responsibility in fulfilling student teaching requirements.
• Behaviors indicating an attitude of indifference or hostility.
• Incorrect written or oral language which interferes with performance of teaching.
• Limited teaching skills (e.g., unprepared, no lesson plans, or poorly written lesson plans, poor classroom management).
• Poor interpersonal skills with school's students, faculty, and/or staff.
• Violation of school policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or code of ethics.
• Lack of appropriate professional attitudes or behaviors.

Procedures for Termination

If a problem arises which could culminate in termination of the candidate's student teaching assignment, the university supervisor will notify Ball State's Director of the Office of Teacher Education Services (OTES), the candidate, the cooperating teacher, and the school principal, in writing, that termination is being considered.

As soon as reasonably possible, generally within five (5) school days of such notification, the parties will meet privately to discuss the problem(s). Where applicable, written documentation of the problem(s) will be shared with the candidate. The candidate will be informed in writing of the specific conditions that he/she must meet in order to continue with the student teaching assignment and the period of time within which this must be accomplished (generally within five (5) school days).

If, by the end of the period of time established during the meeting, the university supervisor, the cooperating teacher, and the school principal agree that the candidate has not met these conditions, the assignment will be terminated. A formal letter of dismissal, describing the student teacher's performance, and indicating the reasons for dismissal, and signed by the university supervisor, the cooperating teacher and the school principal, will be prepared and delivered to the candidate in a meeting with the candidate convened by the university supervisor and attended by the cooperating teacher and the school principal, if they are available. A copy of the letter will be given to each of the involved parties and the Director of OTES. The candidate will be removed from the teaching assignment immediately upon delivery of the letter and he/she will be given a grade of "no credit" for student teaching.

In extreme or unusual circumstances, if determined by the Director of OTES to be in the best interests of the school and/or the candidate, the Director of OTES may remove the candidate from the teaching assignment immediately following the occurrence of an incident or situation resulting in the initiation of these procedures. In that event, the meeting(s) to be held among the parties under these procedures will be convened at the earliest possible time.

Appeal

If the candidate believes his/her removal from the teaching assignment violated the procedures for termination set forth above, that the decision to terminate was arbitrary and capricious, or that the decision was the result of unlawful discrimination, the candidate may request in writing that the decision be reviewed. This request must be received in the Office of the Dean of Teachers College within five (5) school days of the date of delivery of the formal dismissal letter.

The review will be completed by the Dean of the Teachers College or his/her designee as soon as reasonably possible, generally within five (5) school days of receipt of the request for review. The Dean or his/her designee will review all relevant documentation, interview the candidate and the other concerned parties, and determine whether the decision should be upheld or reversed. If, based upon this review, the decision is upheld, it shall be final. If the decision to terminate the teaching assignment is reversed, the Dean of the Teachers College or his/her designee, after consulting with the Director of the Office of Teacher Education Services and the university supervisor (and, if appropriate, the cooperating teacher and the school principal), shall determine the appropriate remedy. Where possible, this remedy will involve the candidate's return to his/her student teaching assignment. The decision of the Dean is final and not subject to the grade appeal process as outlined in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.