Who must sign the agreement?

The authorized representative from the teacher-preparation program, the host school or district administrator, the supervising teacher if required, and the student teacher should sign to confirm acceptance and responsibility.

Can the agreement be signed electronically?

Yes; electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided the signer shows intent, consents to e-records, and the record is retained.

Is notarization required?

Most Student Teaching Agreements do not require notarization. Check district policy and state rules; New York and some other jurisdictions may have unique authentication practices.

What if a clearance is still pending?

Include a conditional clause allowing start only after successful completion of clearances; do not place the student teacher in unsupervised duties until approvals are complete.

How should signed copies be stored?

Store signed PDFs in the institution's secure records system with access controls. Retain for the period required by institutional policy and applicable law.

How to correct an executed agreement?

If parties need changes after signing, execute a written amendment signed by the same authorized signatories or create a replacement agreement and retain both records.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Education
Student Teaching Agreement

Student Teaching Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

STUDENT TEACHING AGREEMENT

Parties and Program Identification

Institution / Program Name Program Representative Institution Address

Student Information

Student Full Legal Name Student ID Number

Date of Birth: Phone: Email:

Permanent / Mailing Address

Placement Details

Host School / Placement Site

District: Grade / Subject:

Cooperating Teacher

Placement Start Date: Placement End Date: Total Weeks:

Expected Hours per Week: Total Hours Required:

Credit / Compensation

Certifications, Clearances, and Health Requirements

I certify that a criminal background check has been completed and cleared.

I certify that tuberculosis screening requirements have been satisfied.

I certify that required immunizations or health records have been provided to the host site.

Additional Clearance or Notes

Duties, Responsibilities, and Academic Requirements

The Student agrees to perform all duties customary to student teaching as assigned by the cooperating teacher and the institution, including but not limited to lesson planning, instructional delivery, assessment, classroom management, participation in professional seminars, and completion of assigned documentation and evaluations by specified deadlines.

Student Responsibilities (summary of expectations) University / Program Responsibilities Cooperating Teacher / Host Site Responsibilities

Evaluation and Grading

Evaluation will be based on the program's published rubric and will include observations by the cooperating teacher and university supervisor, submission of required artifacts (lesson plans, reflections, assessments), and a final summative evaluation. Failure to meet minimum standards may result in removal from placement or a failing grade for the student teaching experience.

Evaluation Criteria / Grading Standards

Confidentiality, Liability, and Termination

The Student shall maintain the confidentiality of student information and records in accordance with applicable law and host-site policy. The Student shall not disclose personally identifiable information obtained during placement except as permitted for legitimate educational purposes. The Student agrees to comply with all host-site policies including codes of conduct and reporting obligations.

Liability and Insurance Termination

This Agreement may be terminated by the institution or host site for cause, including but not limited to violations of policy, inadequate performance, misconduct, or failure to maintain required clearances. Except in cases of imminent danger or gross misconduct, the terminating party will provide written notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond.

Academic Credit and Completion

Successful completion and awarding of academic credit is contingent upon meeting the objectives, completing required hours, submitting required documentation, and receiving a satisfactory final evaluation from the cooperating teacher and university supervisor. Any remediation plan or extension must be approved in writing by the program representative.

Academic Requirements / Conditions for Completion

Additional Terms

Other Provisions

By signing below, the Student (or Parent/Guardian if the Student is under 18) and the Institution Representative acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the terms of this Student Teaching Agreement, and that the statements and certifications contained in this Agreement are true and correct to the best of their knowledge.

Student / Parent or Guardian (if applicable) — Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Institution Representative — Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Student Teaching Agreement Is and when it's used

A Student Teaching Agreement is a formal written arrangement between a teacher-preparation institution, a host school or district, and a student teacher that establishes placement terms, supervision responsibilities, insurance and liability allocations, required clearances, and the effective dates of the placement. The agreement documents duties, evaluation criteria, work schedule, and reporting lines so each party understands expectations during the practicum. It often accompanies background-check results, proof of immunizations or clearance, and placement authorizations required by the district or state education agency.

Why this agreement matters for institutions and school districts

A clear Student Teaching Agreement reduces disputes, documents legal and safety requirements, and protects institutions, schools, and students by setting explicit responsibilities and timelines.

Primary users and stakeholders for the Student Teaching Agreement

The agreement involves three core parties: the educator-preparation program, the host school or district, and the student teacher; other stakeholders may include supervising teachers and human resources.

Teacher-preparation program administrators and placement coordinators responsible for arranging, documenting, and monitoring placements.
Host school or district administrators and cooperating teachers who supervise the student teacher and assess performance.
Student teachers who must accept the placement terms, complete required clearances, and follow school policies.

Accurate execution by each signatory ensures compliance with institutional rules, district policies, and any applicable state education requirements.

Core components to include in a professional Student Teaching Agreement

A complete agreement covers role definitions, duration and schedule, supervision and evaluation, required clearances and insurance, liability allocation, and data privacy or FERPA considerations.

Parties

Identify the institution, host school/district, and student teacher by full legal names and official addresses to avoid ambiguity.

Placement term

State the exact start and end dates, weekly schedule, and any required orientation or in-service days relevant to the placement.

Supervision

Describe the supervising teacher's role, frequency of observation, evaluator responsibilities, and criteria used for formative and summative assessments.

Clearances

List required background checks, fingerprinting, TB/immunization proofs, and any state-mandated educator credentials to be completed before placement.

Liability

Specify insurance coverage, indemnity language, and which party is responsible for incidents during supervised placement.

Data privacy

Address student records access, FERPA obligations, and limits on classroom data collected during the placement.

Step-by-step: completing a Student Teaching Agreement

Follow this sequence to prepare, confirm, and finalize placement documentation with minimal back-and-forth.

01

Prepare draft: Populate parties, dates, schedule, and supervisor information.
02

Attach clearances: Include background check, immunization, and TB documentation.
03

Route for review: Send to institution and district contacts for administrative review.
04

Sign and record: Obtain authorized signatures and save copies in institutional records.

Configuring an online workflow for Student Teaching Agreements

Set up a repeatable digital workflow to manage placements, ensure required fields are completed, and capture an audit trail for each signed agreement.

Field	Configuration
Required Fields	Make names, dates, and clearance checkboxes mandatory
Routing Order	Institution → Host school admin → Supervising teacher → Student teacher
Authentication	Use email plus optional SMS code for signer verification
Notifications	Enable reminders for outstanding signatures and missing documents

Where to send the agreement and how it moves between parties

Typical routing ensures the institution issues the draft, the host school accepts terms, and the student teacher signs last to confirm assignment.

Institution Issuance: Placement coordinator uploads agreement and initiates the signing workflow.
School Acceptance: Host school administrator reviews, countersigns, and confirms supervisor assignment.
Student Signing: Student teacher reviews terms and adds signature and date.
Recordkeeping: Final signed copy distributed to all parties and stored in program files.

Digital signing and distribution considerations

Use an e-signature platform that preserves an audit trail, supports required authentication, and exports signed PDFs for records.

File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Connects to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
Authentication: Email link, SMS code, or advanced methods

Ensure the chosen platform can store signed agreements securely, produce tamper-evident PDFs, and meet any contract-specific authentication requirements.

Key deadlines and timing to keep in mind

Timing is critical for placement approvals, background checks, and start dates; plan lead time accordingly to avoid delays.

Clearance completion deadline:

Complete background checks at least 2–4 weeks before placement start

Agreement signing:

Sign and file the agreement before the student teacher's first class day

Immunization proof:

Provide vaccination or exemption documents per district timelines

Evaluation schedule:

Set observation and evaluation dates within the first two weeks

Record submission:

Upload final signed agreement to program records within 7 days

Milestone timeline for a typical placement

A sequential milestone view helps coordinate onboarding, supervision, and final evaluation tasks across parties.

01

Placement Offer

Institution confirms host school and offers placement to student teacher.

02

Clearance Completion

Student supplies background checks and required health documentation.

03

Agreement Execution

All parties sign the finalized Student Teaching Agreement.

04

Supervised Teaching

Student teaches under supervision and participates in scheduled observations.

Common mistakes that delay placement

Missing or mismatched names between the agreement and official IDs cause administrative rejection and slow approval.
Incomplete clearance documents or expired background checks often block school access and delay start dates.
Unclear supervision or evaluation criteria create disputes about performance and complicate grading or certification.
Failing to record or distribute the fully signed agreement prevents accurate institutional recordkeeping and audit readiness.

Risks and potential consequences of incorrect agreements

Placement delays: Liability and access issues

Noncompliance: Violation of district policies

Insurance gaps: Exposure for institution and school

Record disputes: Difficulty verifying responsibilities

FERPA breaches: Student records privacy risk

Credential impact: Certification or credit delays

Comparing eSignature vendor starting prices and basic features

Basic pricing and common feature availability for eSignature tools used to execute agreements; signNow is listed first per vendor comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Realistic examples showing how agreements are used

Two concise scenarios show how a Student Teaching Agreement functions in practice across different institutions.

University–District Placement

A university places a student teacher at a local middle school where the district requires a signed agreement before classroom access.

The supervisor schedules biweekly observations and midterm feedback.
The agreement clarified supervision, proved clearances were complete, and prevented a delayed start when a fingerprint result needed follow-up.

Clinical School Partnership

A teacher-preparation program contracts with an urban high school for multiple placements and uses a master agreement to streamline onboarding.

Student teachers upload background checks to the program portal.
Centralized signatures and stored PDFs reduced administrative time and ensured all placements met district policy.

Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about execution, signing order, authentication, and recordkeeping for Student Teaching Agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Who must sign the agreement?
The authorized representative from the teacher-preparation program, the host school or district administrator, the supervising teacher if required, and the student teacher should sign to confirm acceptance and responsibility.
Can the agreement be signed electronically?
Yes; electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided the signer shows intent, consents to e-records, and the record is retained.
Is notarization required?
Most Student Teaching Agreements do not require notarization. Check district policy and state rules; New York and some other jurisdictions may have unique authentication practices.
What if a clearance is still pending?
Include a conditional clause allowing start only after successful completion of clearances; do not place the student teacher in unsupervised duties until approvals are complete.
How should signed copies be stored?
Store signed PDFs in the institution's secure records system with access controls. Retain for the period required by institutional policy and applicable law.
How to correct an executed agreement?
If parties need changes after signing, execute a written amendment signed by the same authorized signatories or create a replacement agreement and retain both records.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now