Overview
When a teacher candidate is experiencing difficulties in any course and/or in the field that may jeopardize his or her successful completion of the program, the candidate, clinical faculty, cooperating teacher, faculty member, program director, or field coordinator may request the formation of a Guidance and Support Team (GST) for feedback and the formulation of a plan of action. The GST will monitor the progress of the teacher candidate and will make recommendations to the Director of the Education Program about the candidate’s status in the program.
Formal Procedure
Initiating parties notify teacher candidate in writing that his or her presence is required at a meeting of the GST. If the process is initiated by the teacher candidate, he or she formally requests the formation of a GST in writing to the Program Director.
Together the teacher candidate and the GST will develop a plan of action, a timeline to remedy the issue(s), and the expected consequences. This plan of action becomes part of the teacher candidate’s program file. The plan of action and timeline will include specific plans for follow-up support and review of progress.
Dismissal Procedures
If problems persists after the appropriate steps have been taken, the GST will meet again to consider the status of the teacher candidate’s performance or lack of progress. The GST may then make one of the following recommendations:
- Revise the plan of action
- Remove the teacher candidate immediately from the classroom and the program
- Require the teacher candidate to take a leave of absence with specific plans for remediation and a timeline established through the GST process
- Require the teacher candidate to join a future cohort for additional field experiences and/or student teaching experience
- The teacher candidate may voluntarily withdraw from the program.
Recommendations from this meeting will be sent to the Director of the Education Program. If the ultimate decision is to dismiss the teacher candidate, the Director of the Education Program will forward a recommendation regarding dismissal to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The teacher candidate may appeal this decision to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs through the University of Washington Bothell academic grievance procedures of the UW Human Rights Commission.
Tuition Reimbursement Policy
In the case of an unplanned withdrawal, particularly after the current quarter has begun
students should be aware of University policies for tuition reimbursement.
Withdrawal During Student Teaching Quarter
Students who withdraw from the program during any quarter are subject to the university’s policies on incompletes and withdrawals. If a student is not making satisfactory progress s/he will not be given a grade of ‘Incomplete’ for any coursework from that current quarter.