Special Project - Praxis Exam Fee Support

College of Education and Human Services

The requirements for degree completion and teacher certification in Kentucky include 200 hours of practicum and 90 hours of student teaching. The Murray State University College of Education and Human Services is now piloting a clinically-based approach for preparing future teachers called the Professional Development School model that combines these requirements, and gives them a unique opportunity to serve as “junior faculty” for an entire school year alongside master educators in host schools.

The year-long internship epitomizes the idea of “learning by doing,” and our aim is that our graduates will be not only fully prepared as educators, but also better qualified than other candidates in the job market.

Because this is an unpaid internship, these student teachers are often in need of scholarship support to complete their degrees. It is during this time that many struggle financially because they cannot keep prior job commitments while they complete the required hours at their host school. In addition, they can incur additional travel expenses such as mileage and lodging, depending on their placement location. As one of the last steps in the degree process, retaining these students during student teaching is critical.