The selection and evaluation of cooperating teachers: A status report

Abstract

Cooperating teachers are one of the most influential components of teacher education programs. During the last several decades procedures for identifying and selecting cooperating teachers have become traditional and uniform across the states. A survey of practices for the selection and evaluation of cooperating teachers was conducted with thirteen teacher education institutions, ranging in size from 430 to 39 student teachers a year. The data confirm that student teacher placement procedures and the selection of cooperating teachers remain relatively unchanged. The most important criteria were the principal's recommendation of the teacher and that the teacher have at least three years of experience. The majority of the institutions do not require cooperating teachers to take a supervision inservice class or a course, but the institutions do provide cooperating teachers with a student teaching handbook. The data reinforce that teacher education programs need to scrutinize the processes for selection and evaluation of cooperating teachers. The survey instrument is included.