Student Teaching: Hawaii
Student teaching allows pre-service teachers to practice and improve their teaching skills in a regular classroom. Student teachers work closely with a cooperating teacher and BYUH supervisors who validate a candidate's teaching proficiency.
For students seeking a recommendation for Hawaii licensure:
- The student teaching field experience must be completed within the State of Hawaii.
- School/classroom placements are arranged for and coordinated by the BYUH Teacher Education Program.
- Placements are available during the fall and winter semesters. No spring or summer placements are provided.
Students seeking teacher licensing in Hawaii need to formally apply to the Teacher Education Program. Students must be admitted before enrolling for EDUC 312, Effective Pedagogy.
Additional details can be found on the Admission to the Teacher Education Program page.
Praxis Testing
Students seeking a recommendation for Hawaii licensure must pass the appropriate PRAXIS II Content Test for the license field being sought before beginning student teaching.
Students who cannot pass after an initial attempt must re-take the test at least 30 days before the beginning of student teaching. Students who cannot pass after a minimum of two attempts may be advanced to student teaching if one of the following conditions is met.
- For secondary education subject licensure, a minimum of thirty semester hours in the content field from an accredited institution of higher education, at least fifteen of which must be upper division level; or
- For elementary education K-6 licensure, a total of thirty-six semester hours, including nine semester hours in each of the following four core content areas: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. At least three semester hours in each of the core content areas must be upper-division level.
Failure to meet the criteria listed will result in the cancellation of the student teaching placement and the student being switched to the non-certification track within the Teacher Education Program.
Students who meet the above criteria but are unable to pass the appropriate Praxis test by the end of student teaching will be graduated with the appropriate degree. To be recommended for Hawaii licensure, the student must pass the appropriate Praxis test within 12 months from the end of student teaching.
| BYU–Hawaii Major | Praxis Test[1] | Hawaii Teacher Standards Board License Field |
| Elementary Education (BS) | Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) OR Elementary Education Assessment (5006) | Elementary Education (K-6) |
| Art Education (BS) | Art: Content Knowledge (5134) | Art (6-12) |
| Biology Education (BS) | Biology (5236) OR General Science (5436) | Science (6-12) |
| Business Education (BS) | Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) | CTE-Business (7-12) |
| Chemistry Education (BS) | Chemistry (5246) OR General Science (5436) | Science (6-12) |
| English Education (BA) | English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038) | English (6-12) |
| Health and Human Science Education (BS) | Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5091) | Physical Education (6-12) |
| History Education (BA) | Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) | Social Studies (6-12) |
| Math Education (BS) | Mathematics: (5165) | Mathematics (6-12) |
| | Music: Content Knowledge (5113) OR Music: Instrumental and General Knowledge (5115) OR Music: Vocal and General Knowledge (5116) | Music (6-12) |
| Physical Science Education (BS) | General Science (5436) | Science (6-12) |
| Physics Education (BS) | Physics (5266) OR General Science (5436) | Science (6-12) |
| Social Science Education (BS) | Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) | Social Studies (6-12) |
| TESOL Education (BA) | English to Speakers of Other Languages (5362) | TESOL (6-12) |
[1] Current as of March 24, 2023. Please verify with the ETS: Praxis website to determine which test you need to take and see the minimum qualifying score. Score Requirements web page
Attendance (on-site) is required for all scheduled days of a student teaching experience. No absences are allowed during the first full and last full weeks of the student teaching experience.
Student teachers are required to attend all contractual teacher work obligations, including but not limited to department meetings, faculty meetings, teacher workdays, and parent-teacher conferences.
During student teaching, three (3) sick days are provided for absences due to unexpected illness. Allotted sick days may not be used for personal leave. It is the teacher candidate's responsibility to notify the Cooperating Teacher and university supervisor of absences as far in advance as possible and practical.
Any absences beyond the allotted sick days are considered unexcused and will result in the extension or termination of the student teaching experience.
