Resources for Education Students
The guidelines, documents, and links housed on this site are part of the School of Education Student Handbook at Point Park University and are intended to serve as a comprehensive resource for students enrolled in education programs. The School of Education is dedicated to preparing knowledgeable, reflective, and ethical educators who are equipped to meet the diverse needs of learners and communities. Grounded in a commitment to equity, innovation and community partnership, the School emphasizes high-quality instruction, experiential learning, and professional collaboration. Our mission is to develop education professionals who demonstrate strong content knowledge, effective pedagogical practices and a deep sense of responsibility to students, schools and society. Guided by values of integrity, inclusion, lifelong learning and social responsibility, the School of Education supports students as they progress through their programs and into impactful careers in education and related fields.
Downloadable forms
Requirements for education majors
- Clearances
- Field Experience Guidelines
- Mandated reporter information and training
- PAPA/CORE/PRAXIS® exams - Basic Skills tests (Reading, Writing and Math) waived until July 8, 2025
- What tests do I need to take? - Please be aware that it is the student's responsibility to regularly review the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website for the most up-to-date testing requirements specific to your certification area, as PDE does make periodic changes to the requirements. For detailed information, please refer to the PDE Testing Requirement link.
- Teacher certification program - becoming declared
- Teacher certification through TIMS
Do you plan to student teach?
- Student Teaching Handbook
- Bloom's Taxonomy
- Framework for Teaching Checklist
- Lesson Observation Rubric - Student Teaching
- Lesson Plan Guidelines - Student Teaching
- Lesson Plan Template - Student Teaching
- PDE 430 - Student Teaching
- Student Teaching Lesson Reflection Weeks 1-15
- Student Teaching Placement Information Form
Launch your job search
Handshake is a free job and internship search tool that allows students and alumni to find and apply for full-time, part-time and internship postings submitted to the University by a variety of employers, including schools and other education-based organizations.
- Sign up for your account today.
- Visit the Professional Career-Readiness Center’s webpage for more information.
Other resources
- Artificial Intelligence Use in School of Education Classes
- Education Issues
- Evaluations of School Districts
- General Information on Pennsylvania
- Guidelines for Evaluating Prior Learning Experiences for Credit
- PDE Employee Opportunities Database
- Public School Review
- Teacher Job Availability Clearinghouse
- Teaching Degrees, Continuing Education and Career Information
Educational technology labs
Technology labs on campus serve as valuable destinations for curriculum planning, preparation and research. You'll find research tools for classroom projects, lesson plans and testing.
Learn more about our student technology resources at Point Park.
Collaborative partners
- The Pittsburgh Public School/University Collaborative provides you with the opportunity to choose an urban setting for your student teaching placement.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Education partnership offers technical assistance and conducts regular re-certification audits to assure high standards in teacher preparation.
- Point Park also participates in The Pittsburgh Educational Recruiting Consortium (PERC) which is held annually to recruit future educators and The Western Pennsylvania Career Services Annual Job Fair for College Graduates, which is geared toward graduates with bachelor's or master's degrees.
- Additional recruitment events are also held.
Professional organizations
Faculty members keep current with educational trends through memberships in professional organizations.
Student affiliates and pre-service teachers may be associate members of many of these organizations. You'll reap benefits that can greatly enhance your teaching and career opportunities:
- American Association of School Administrators
- American Association of University Professors
- American Counseling Association
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
- Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association for Multicultural Education
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- National Education Association (NEA)
- Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE)
- Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children
- Pennsylvania State Educators Association (PSEA)
- Phi Delta Kappa
- Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT)
- School Performance Institute