Student Teaching Overview
The Early Childhood Studies (ECS) Student Teaching Program provides candidates with supervised field experiences in high-quality early childhood settings throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Student teaching allows candidates to apply their knowledge, develop professional teaching practices, and demonstrate competency working with infants, toddlers, preschool, and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) children. Students are expected to complete 28 required student teaching days, 2 days per week, 7.5 hours per day. Completion of all 28 days is required to successfully complete the student teaching courses.
Student teaching is completed in two consecutive semesters and includes university supervision and mentoring throughout the placement.
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Before beginning student teaching, students must successfully complete the following orientation courses:
ECS 330
ECS 335
ECS 355 (recommended)To qualify for student teaching, students must have:
- Senior standing (90 or more completed units)
- Successfully completed all required prerequisite coursework
- Completed ECS 330 and ECS 335
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Student teaching is completed in two parts over two consecutive semesters.
Part 1 Infant/Toddler Student Teaching students enroll in:
- ECS 460
- ECS 461
Part 2 – Preschool/TK Student Teaching students must have completed ECS 460 and ECS 461. Students must enroll concurrently in:
- ECS 450, ECS 480
- ECS 486
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- Student teaching placements occur during both the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Placement dates will be announced each semester (Dates TBA).
- All placements are coordinated by the Early Childhood Studies Program. Students do not select their own placement sites.
- Placements are made with our partnered schools and early childhood programs throughout Ventura County and Santa Barbara County.
- Students are expected to travel to their assigned placement site.
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Completion of the Student Teaching Application is required for all candidates.
Application periods are as follows:
- Students planning to student teach in the Fall semester: Applications open during the Spring semester.
- Students planning to student teach in the Spring semester: Applications open during the Fall semester.
- Applications will be distributed via email by the ECS Coordinator.
After applications are submitted:
- Applications will be reviewed by the ECS Program.
- Students will be notified of their placement assignment.
- Students will receive any additional onboarding paperwork required by their assigned placement site.
- Site-specific documents must be completed before student teaching begins.
- Placement sites must review and approve all required documentation before students may begin their assignment.
Throughout the entire process, the ECS Coordinator will remain in communication with students and provide updates leading up to the first day of student teaching.
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All required clearance documents must be submitted before beginning student teaching.
Required documentation includes:
- TB Clearance
- Tdap Verification
- MMR Verification
- COVID-19 Vaccination Documentation
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccination Verification or an approved Declination Statement
- Important: TB Clearance must remain valid through the completion of the student teaching semester and cannot be more than one year old at the time your student teaching semester ends.
- Additional health or clearance requirements may be requested by individual placement sites.
Contact Information
Questions regarding student teaching, eligibility, applications, placements, or required documentation should be directed to the Early Childhood Studies Coordinator: Gissell Toxqui gissell.toxqui@csuci.edu or Early Childhood Studies Chair: Dr. Mari Riojas-Cortez mari.riojas-cortez@csuci.edu. The program should respond within 48-72 hours, excluding weekends.
Application announcements, important reminders, virtual student teaching office hours and program updates will be sent to students through their university email. Students are responsible for checking their university email regularly throughout the student teaching process.
FAQs
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No. Student teaching placements are assigned by the Early Childhood Studies (ECS) Program. Placements are made based on program needs, site availability, and established partnerships with schools and early childhood programs throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
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Possibly. Students who are currently employed in an early childhood setting may be eligible to complete student teaching at their work site if it meets ECS Program requirements.
Work-site placements are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the ECS Program. Approval is not guaranteed.
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The ECS Program makes every effort to consider students' locations when making placements. However, placement opportunities are based on the availability of approved partner sites.
Students should be prepared to travel to any assigned placement within Santa Barbara or Ventura County. Reliable transportation is the student's responsibility.
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Yes. Most placement sites require additional documentation before students may begin their placement.
Requirements may include:
- Live Scan fingerprint clearance
- Health screening
- TB Clearance
- Tdap verification
- MMR verification
- COVID-19 documentation (if required by the site)
- Flu vaccination verification or an approved declination statement
Some placement sites may have additional onboarding requirements.
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Live Scan services are available at many local locations, including:
- UPS Stores (participating locations)
- Local police departments or sheriff's offices (CSUCI Police department can assist as well)
- Authorized Live Scan providers
*Students should wait until they receive instructions from the ECS Program or their placement site before completing a Live Scan, as some sites require specific forms.
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Yes. Students are required to make up school holidays or scheduled site closures. Any student teaching days missed due to illness, personal reasons, or other absences must also be made up to complete the required 28 days.
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No. Student teaching follows the schedule established by the ECS Program and the assigned placement site.
Students are expected to complete approximately 7.5 hours per day, two days per week, for a total of 28 required student teaching days.
Alternative schedules are generally not permitted unless approved by the ECS program under exceptional circumstances.
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Some placement sites may accept approved exemption or declination forms for specific health requirements, such as the annual influenza vaccine.
Acceptance of exemptions is determined by the placement site and applicable regulations. Students should consult the ECS Coordinator if they have questions regarding documentation.
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No. University Supervisors are assigned by the ECS Program based on faculty availability and placement assignments.Students will be notified of their assigned University Supervisor prior to the start of student teaching.
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Application periods open each semester.
Students completing student teaching in the Fall will apply during the Spring semester.
Students completing student teaching in the Spring will apply during the Fall semester.
The ECS Coordinator will send application information and instructions to students through their university email.