Field Based Experiences 

The Texas Administrative Code 19 TAC 228.35 outlines the requirements for candidate completion of FBEs.  Candidates must have at least 30 clock hours of approved field-based experiences. 

Approved Field-Based Experience requirements include: 

  1. Variety of Classroom Settings
  2. Interacting with students (All in person FBEs must involve participation in the classroom with students) 
  3. Experiences must take place on a TEA approved campus (public schools). A list of TEA approved schools can be found at AskTED.  TEA approved Private Schools can be located on TEPSAC
  4. Up to 15 hours can be through online observations.
  5. 1 submission per day 
  6. Interns must submit FBEs in grade and subject specific classrooms during regular school hours.  


Please Note: 

Inquiries for in-person traditional interactive FBEs go to fbe@teachersoftomorrow.org 

Inquiries for online FBEs go to curriculumsupport@texasteachers.org 

 

There are 2 types of FBEs acceptable:

1.) Traditional Interactive Field-Based Experiences: 30 hours credit; up to 12 hours under one teacher 

  1. May submit up to 6 hours daily in person (must happen between 7am- 4:30 pm) 
  2. Experience must occur after their enrollment date. 
  3. Must be with a TEA certified teacher 
  4. Across all 30 hours, Intern must include different teachers, different content areas, and different grades (at least 3 different teachers, 3 different grades, 3 different content areas).  Maximum number of hours with each teacher is 12 hours.  Up to 6 per calendar day. 
    1. If the intern does 15 hours in person and 15 hours online, they will automatically get their "variety" of educational settings because our online observations include different teachers, subjects and grades for each video.  
    2. If they do all 30 hours in-person, they must make sure to observe a minimum of 3 teachers, 3 grades, 3 subjects.  
  5. Any in-person field-based experience must include interactions with students.
    1. This can include small groups, answering student’s questions, assisting in a mini-lesson etc. For examples of what does NOT count as interactions please see (FBE Updates) 
  6. Interns may submit up to 15 online/electronic submission hours or any combination of in-person/Interactive and online hours up to 15 online hours.  For Example: 18 hours in person; 12 hours online.  MAY NOT HAVE MORE ONLINE THAN IN PERSON.
  7. Interns will not be able to submit FBE's older than one year via their portal.    

 

      Educational Aides/ Paraprofessionals:

  1. Aides and Paraprofessionals can use their experience ONLY if their experience is assisting teachers and actively engaged with students AND meets requirements outlined above under, "Traditional Interactive Field-Based Experience."


 

2.) Long-term Substitute Experience – 15 hours credit 

  1. Long-term substitute experience can be completed up to 2 years prior to admission.  The intern must have been a long-term sub for 30 consecutive school days in the same assignment
  2. Long-term substitute experience must have already taken place.  Intern must have already completed their 30 consecutive school days prior to submitting the LTS form.  
  3. Intern must only fill out the Long-Term Substitute Verification Form located to download from their intern portal under Menu>Field Based Experience.  (Also see attached at bottom) 
  4. Interns will submit the completed and signed form to fbe@teachersoftomorrow.org 
    1. The signed form must come directly from the HR department directly to fbe@teachersoftomorrow.org.  We cannot accept it from the intern directly.   
  5. Once our FBE team receives and processes the form, they will update the intern's account and portal with all 15 hours of LTS experience.  
  6. The other 15 hours of experience will need to be completed in a variety of classrooms with different teachers and subject areas for their remaining work.  15 hours of online/electronic observations will ensure variety of experiences.  


Additional FBE information: 

Summer School: 

  1. Interns may complete field-based experience during summer school IF it meets requirements outlined above under Traditional Interactive Field-Based Experience.  
  2. Absolutely no extra-curricular activities will qualify for field based experience.  For example: Marching band practice, drill team, volley ball, football practice etc.  students are not receiving school credit for extracurricular over the summer therefore it does not count. 
  3. Interns will have to get special permission from district, school or teacher sometimes when observing summer school. 
  4.  For Secondary Education, summer school is typically a condensed 2-3 week course for students to make up a full semester and get credit for a subject.  Teachers have a lot of material to deliver within a short time frame and there is little to no opportunity for interns to interact with students so it will be important for them to identify these opportunities ahead of time.
  5.  Elementary Education, summer school is typically for Reading or Math only.  These are shorter time frames, maybe 1-2 weeks, where students concentrate on STAAR related subjects and concepts in reading and math.  Interaction is also limited or not available so interns will need to clarify this before arranging in person FBEs.  


Experience that does NOT count

  1. An intern cannot submit FBEs on their own teaching experience UNLESS it is as a long-term substitute. In that scenario, they will need to meet the requirements outlined above under "Long-term Substitute Experience." 
  2. Co-Teachers
    1. In Texas, Co- Teacher is a specific designated position.  Interns who hold or previously held a co-teacher positions would be have to be certified and have previously completed their field-based experience.  


Job Titles are not uniform by district.  What one district may call an associate teacher, another may call a long term sub or co-teacher.  Because of this, Texas Teachers is not able to accept any type of experience that is a deviation from TAC.  TAC only makes exceptions for long-term substitutes.  An intern must carry the title of long-term substitute, no exceptions.  All other experience is categorized under "Traditional Interactive Field Based Experiences" and must meet those requirements outlined above.