SECURITY CLEARANCE FAQ

Q: How are placements assigned?

A: New policy: Field Placements are now assigned according to student preferences.

Students should not report to a Field Experience at a site where they are employed. Students cannot report to a Field Experience site where they have family members registered or employed.

Students cannot conduct field hours during FAU course time. The field placement hours served cannot conflict with the student's FAU course schedule.

Q: Are there certain courses that I need to be programmed in order to remain in the course(s)?

A: Yes! Students MUST meet the eligibility requirements and be formally accepted into the College of Education PRIOR to registering for the following courses: EDG 3323, EDG 3324, ESE 3940, RED 4510, RED 4308, RED 4552, RED 4750, and/or TSL 4081.

Students MUST provide a copy of their program sheet at the FIRST class session in order to remain in the course.

Q: How is the Field Placement assignment determined?

A: A student’s Field Placement application is verified for security clearance and then forwarded to the school district office. Field Placements are assigned according to a student’s residence (as indicated on the Field Placement application), course placement requirements, and day of student availability.

Q: Am I guaranteed a placement assignment according to the day requested on my Field Placement application?

A: Yes! While students are not guaranteed their school site preference, they are guaranteed the preferred day to report to the school/community center as indicated on the Field Placement application.

Q: I am currently employed at a school. Can I be assigned a Field Placement at my site of employment?

A: The school districts have strongly discouraged University students the opportunity to participate and conduct Field Experiences at sites of employment and/or where university students have family members registered or employed

Q: How do I apply for a Field Placement assignment?

A: Field Placement applications are submitted electronically.

Q: When do the Field Experiences begin?

A: Students should check the Student Lookup at this web site to determine their placement. Once assigned, field experience students need to contact their placement site to make scheduling arrangements. Students assigned 90 hour practicum placements should begin by the third week of the semester.

Q: Do I call to the school/community center to confirm my Field Placement assignment?

A: Students need to respect and follow each county school district’s telephone call policy:

Students SHOULD CALL the schools and leave a message to confirm Field Placement assignment(s).

Students with Henderson School placements should email their assigned teacher.

Q: What if I am unable to keep a scheduled visit appointment?

A: Students who are unable to maintain a scheduled visit should contact the schools and leave a message for the specific teacher assigned. If a teacher’s name is not yet assigned, then leave a message with one of the secretaries in the schools’ front office.

Q: Is there a dress code to follow when reporting to Field Placements?

A: Yes! First impressions are lasting impressions!!! Refer to the link titled "Field Placement Visits" at this web site to serve as a reference for dress code as suggested by the school districts.

Q: Where to I report once I arrive to the school/community center?

A: Student MUST report to the school/community center front office upon EACH visit. Students MUST sign in and sign out at EACH visit to the campus.

Q: Are there materials that should accompany me at my Field Placement experiences?

A: Students should bring the following to the school/community at EACH visit:

Picture I.D.

A copy of the course syllabus. Offer this information to the assigned Clinical Educator (classroom teacher) to further explain course assignments/responsibilities in regard to the Field Experience.

Field Placement Logs if required by the University Instructor.Writing materials for note taking purposes. Any other recommended materials as directed by the University Instructor.

Q: What time am I expected to report to the school or community site?

A: Students registered for Practicum Placements (EDG 3323, EDG 3324, or ESE 3940) are expected to follow a contracted teacher’s day. The times of all other field placements INITIALLY are flexible. Once students make an initial contact at the school/community site, a set schedule should be arranged for future visits. Generally morning visits are encouraged since most schools dismiss by 2 pm.

Q: How many visits am I required to go to the school/community site?

A: The number of visits varies depending by course and University instructor’s requirements.

Q: How long am I expected to stay at each visit?

A: With the exception of Practicum Placements, which are full days experiences, generally students are limited to 2-3 hour intervals per visit, one day each week. Check with the University instructor and classroom teacher to determine a schedule that can be agreed to accommodate both parties.

Q: What is expected of me once I meet with the children?

A: Students should refer to their course syllabi and inquire with the University instructor(s) regarding the expectations for this Field Experience. Though some courses do not have specific course assignments, FAU students should take initiative and promote INTERACTIVE experiences with the school age children-circulating throughout the room, remediating skills, asking the school personnel how you can work with the children.

Q: Is security clearance a requirement to begin Field Experiences?

A: Yes! Check the security clearance section to review required to apply for security clearance; individual School District policies, procedures, and fees are listed.

Q: Will clearances from other counties be accepted?

A: No! Each county school district has their own security clearance requirements and there is no reciprocity amongst the counties.

Q: Do I need to apply for drug screening?

A: Drug screening is not required for Field Experience earlier in the course program. Students applying for student teaching internships and ESE Practicum placements will be required to apply for a drug screening, however CANNOT apply until 6 months prior to those Clinical Experiences. (See the Student Teaching web site link for further detailed information).

Q: How long is the security clearance valid?

A: Each county school district has established policies for validity periods of security clearance. Check the individual policies for each county.

Q: Where do I go to apply for security clearance?

A: Each county school district has specific procedures where to apply. Students MUST refer to the directions as outlined by each individual school district and follow as instructed. DO NOT simply assume one can report to the local police authority. Check individual policies for each county.

Q: How am I notified if I passed security clearance?

A: Each school district has its own procedures for notifying students with possible security clearance difficulties. The school district or a representative from the Field Placement office from FAU will either contact students who experience security clearance difficulties. Students without clearance difficulties will simply continue through the Field Placement process.

Q: I received security clearance through the Palm Beach School District Office while attending another institution. Do I need to reapply for security clearance?

A: Yes!!! In order to transfer security clearance paperwork from another institution, you must resubmit new Field Experience Checklist and Security Check forms. Submit these forms to the Palm Beach School District Office. There will be no additional processing fees if you are continually enrolled, that is transferring from your previous institution to FAU with no breaks in enrollment. A break in enrollment obligates the student to reapply for security clearance, which will include an additional charge of $84 for processing fees.

Q: I am currently an employee of a school district and my security clearance paperwork is on file with the district office. Do I need to reapply for security clearance?

A: Each county has its own policy for school district employees. Students should contact the police department at the school district office if their paperwork is actively on file and request that information be included in a database for university students needing security clearance in order to participate for Field Experiences in the school system.

Special Note for Palm Beach County School Employees: Palm Beach County School District employees who are actively employed with the Palm Beach County School District Office MUST SUBMIT NEW PAPERWORK for security clearance in order to be on file with the school district placement office. School district employees MUST be considered ACTIVELY working for the Palm Beach County School District and received a paycheck within the last 90 days, (excluding the months of June, July and August). They WILL NOT have to pay the security clearance processing fees, however the paperwork must be HAND DELIVERED to the district office. Faxes, postal, and inter-office mailings WILL NOT be accepted. This policy does not apply to After Care workers and appropriate paperwork and fees will be required at the time of the security clearance application.

Q: What happens if my security clearance is not approved?

A: Admittance into the University and/or the College of Education does not guarantee the completion of the degree for this program. Should a student experience difficulties with security clearance and possible denial of placement in the school system, the student will meet with the Department Chair, Director of the Office for Academic and Student Services, and the Field Placement Director to discuss his/her circumstance and future in the academic program.