System Observation Policies
Students enrolled in courses which require observation experiences totaling 10 hours or less in schools will manage their own placement process in light of the requirements outlined by the school system in which they would like to observe. Some systems allow students to contact schools directly, others require students to submit a form to the school system placement office, and other school systems expect the students to contact the COE Office of Academic Assistance and for that office to submit a placement request.
Students choosing a school in a system that requires a criminal background check will need to obtain that prior to requesting an observation placement. Apply online for your background check via StudentCheck (there is a $49.50 fee for this service), UNLESS your placement request is for a school district that requires you to complete the district background check (see information below).
Please review the table below and the full set of instructions for each school district.
Five systems do not require a background check for observation placements of 10 hours or less:
Clayton County, Cobb County (not available Spring 2013), Decatur City, Fayette County, and Gwinnett County.
|
School System |
Background Check needed |
Placed through School |
Placed through System |
Request Form Required |
|
|
Atlanta Public |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Cherokee County |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Clayton County |
No, if 10 hours or less |
Yes, if 10 hrs or less |
Yes |
Yes
|
|
|
Cobb County |
No placements available for Spring 2013 |
No placements available for Spring 2013 |
No placements available for Spring 2013 |
|
|
|
Decatur City |
No, if 10 hrs or less |
Yes, if 10 hrs or less |
|
|
|
|
DeKalb County |
Background check & ID badges required: $40 additional cost |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Douglas County |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Fayette County |
No, if 10 hrs or less |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Fulton County |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Gwinnett County |
No, if 10 hrs or less |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Henry County |
Yes - use County form (see below) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Rockdale County |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Atlanta Public Schools: Students must submit the GSU Request Form to the College of Education OAA office before the end of the fourth week of classes, and complete a background check. APS needs at least one month prior notice for observation requests. Once your observation request has been processed, you will receive email confirmation from Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA office. GSU observation request form available here.
Cherokee County: Requests are processed through the district offices and require a form and criminal background check. Observation request form available here.
Contact: Dr. Leslie Lewis - leslie.lewis@cherokee.k12.ga.us
Clayton County: Students must complete the Clayton County Field Experience application and submit it to Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA. The application requires a letter of recommendation from the course instructor and a resume. The completed applications must be submitted to the COE OAA by August 23 for Fall observations and January 23 for Spring observations. Once your observation request has been processed, you will receive email confirmation from Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA office. The Clayton County application can be found here.
Cobb County: No placements available for Spring 2013. Students requesting observation placement go directly to school principals. Students needing 10 hours or less of observation do not need a background check. The principals have been informed that students doing this type of experience should be requesting approval from them. If some principals turn around and recommend them to the county office, the student should try another school.
Decatur City Schools: If a field placement involves observation hours only, the student may contact the school directly. Students needing 10 hours or less of observation do not need a background check.
DeKalb County: Criminal background check and ID badge required for all students at an additional cost of $40. Students must submit the GSU Request Form to the College of Education OAA office by April 1 for Fall observation requests and September 30 for Spring observation requests. Once your observation request has been processed, you will receive email confirmation from Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA office. GSU obersvation request form available here.
Douglas County: Students must submit the GSU Request Form to the College of Education OAA office before the end of the fourth week of classes, and complete a background check. Douglas County needs at least one month prior notice for observation requests. Once your observation request has been processed, you will receive email confirmation from Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA office. GSU obersvation request form available here.
Fayette County: Requests are processed through the district offices and require a form. Students needing 10 hours or less of observation do not need a background check. On the request form, students should state that they need only 10 hours of observation. The district office will assist the student in seeking placement and advise the principals of their visits. Observation request form available here.
Contact: Linda Beaubien - beaubien.linda@mail.fcboe.org
Fulton County: Students must submit the GSU Request Form to the College of Education OAA office before the end of the fourth week of classes, and complete a background check. Fulton County needs at least one month prior notice for observation requests. Once your observation request has been processed, you will receive email confirmation from Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA office. Bring your criminal background check results with you. GSU observation request form available here.
Gwinnett County: Requests are processed through the district offices and require a form. Students needing 10 hours or less of observation do not need a background check. Students will need to make sure that the college contact section is filled out with your program coordinator or class professor contact information, as the county will need to verify that they are enrolled in that class. Observation request form available here.
Contact: Janet Moody - janet_moody@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Henry County: Students must submit the GSU Request Form and Henry County Background Check form to the College of Education OAA office before the end of the fourth week of classes, and complete a background check. Henry County needs at least one month prior notice for observation requests. Once your observation request has been processed, you will receive email confirmation from Jamila McTizic in the COE OAA office. Students must apply for a criminal background check using the county form available here -- submit this completed form with your observation request form. GSU observation request form available here.
Rockdale County: Requests are processed through the district offices and require a form and criminal background check. Students should also submit a short resume and something from the college outlining the requirements for their observation/internship. (example: an overview given to them by the teacher, a syllabus, or something more formal done by the college for all who take that course). The county needs to know the timeframe of the observation (dates, days, a.m. or p.m.). Students must complete the online StudentCheck criminal background check and forward a copy of the results to Rockdale County along with the observation request form. Observation request form available here.
Contact : Kathy Straub - KStraub@rockdale.k12.ga.us