Partnership Schools

STEP is committed to the Partnership School model of student teaching assignments. Our vision is to work in collaboration with school site faculty and administrative staff for the professional preparation of our teaching candidates. STEP faculty and administrative staff are currently in the process of selecting and working with local elementary schools that share the following criteria:

• Demonstration of effective teaching and learning practices for all students
• Successful implementation of state-level academic standards
• A commitment to the practice of teacher professional development
• Student populations representative of the general diversity in the state (including racial, ethnic, socio-economic, academic, behavioral and language diversity).

STEP will then work closely with these schools to develop strong partnership relationships, where the school and university communicate and collaborate in the preparation and professional development of teaching candidates as well as the school site faculty. Such strong cooperative links allow for the greatest level of consistency and coherency in the program of preparation of STEP teaching candidates.