PDE Field Experience Skills and District Collaboration Chart
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires expanded hours of field experience
throughout the four-year teacher certification programs. This means that teacher candidates must
spend many more hours in public school classrooms than has previously been required.
The purpose of this manual is to provide specific information with regard to each course field
experience requirement. The information course charts identify activities to be completed by the
teacher candidate in the public school classroom for each course. With this manual the classroom
teacher will know why the student has asked to come into his/her class and what the student is to
accomplish during the time in attendance.
The chart below explains the four stages of PDE field experience requirements.
Field Experience Stage
Stage 1: Observation
Minimum of 20 hours

Stage 2: Exploration
Minimum of 20 hours

Stage 3: Pre-Student Teaching
Minimum of 150 hours

Stage 4: Student Teaching
Minimum of 12 weeks – University
requires a full semester or 15 to 17
weeks.

Knowledge and/or skill the teacher
candidate is acquiring in this stage
Observation skills, knowledge of
child development

Observation and assessment skills,
knowledge of child development and
PA Academic Standards, skill in
planning based on observations and
standards, knowledge of child
environments and ability to assess
them, knowledge of community
agencies and skill of advocacy,
interacting and communicating with
parents
Knowledge of content areas and
standards related to them, knowledge
of integrated curriculum, ability to
plan, implement, assess and reflect on
lessons and activities for children,
ability to communicate effectively
with children, peers, parents and
supervisors
Ability to use skills and knowledge
gained in stages one through three

Collaboration with PreK-12 schools
to ensure a quality field experience
Students present the teachers in the
observed classrooms with information
from the professor describing the
goal(s) and objective(s) of the
observation.
Students present the teachers in the
exploration classrooms with the
professor’s form outlining what is to
be accomplished through this
exploration. The teacher is
encouraged to comment on this form
to provide feedback with regard to the
exploration experience(s).

Teachers are included in activity
planning with University faculty prior
to the beginning of the pre-student
teaching experience. Teachers
complete student evaluation forms
and provide feedback for future
experiences.
Teachers discuss issues and activities
with the student teacher.