A strong clinical practice experience can make a new teacher as effective as one in their second or third year in the classroom—a big gain for those teachers and, more importantly, for their students.
New teachers’ success largely hinges on the quality of their clinical practice (or student teaching) experiences, particularly whether they have the chance to learn from a highly effective cooperating teacher.1 Unfortunately, too many new teachers start their careers unprepared for the realities of the classroom because they don’t receive enough high-quality clinical practice. Ensuring these strong clinical practice experiences is particularly critical because students of color and students living in poverty are assigned first-year teachers more often than their more affluent and white peers.2
Creating a strong clinical practice experience for every teacher at scale requires that three core actors—prep programs, school districts, and states —work together. Transforming clinical practice for aspiring teachers in your state, district, or teacher preparation program is entirely achievable and well worth the investment.
Review the six essential elements of a strong clinical practice experience; use the self-assessment tool to help you identify where to start; and read case studies from prep programs, school districts, and states that are getting it right.
What makes clinical practice work? How can districts, prep programs, and states collaborate to provide aspiring teachers with strong experiences?
Explore six research-backed areas of clinical practice that prepare aspiring teachers for classroom success.
All aspiring teachers benefit from the firsthand experience of observing and practicing under effective teachers.
Ratings of teacher prep programs show whether they are providing high-quality clinical practice experiences.
Why do some new teachers thrive while others struggle or leave the profession? The answer often lies in their student teaching experience.
While clinical practice is widely recognized as the cornerstone of teacher prep, many programs haven’t updated their approach in decades. What does the research tell us about creating effective clinical experiences?
Clinical practice opportunities are critical elements of teacher preparation.
This paper defines the two key types of clinical practice experiences teacher candidates need and outlines six common models prep programs use to provide them.
How can teacher prep residencies solve staffing challenges while strengthening instruction?
Texas Tech University’s innovative approach shows the way, turning teacher candidates into valuable classroom assets through strategic placements, like co-teaching and substitute teaching roles.
