How to Get Student Teaching Liability Insurance

Student teaching liability insurance is a form of professional insurance that provides financial protection in civil legal matters. Most universities require, if not strongly recommend, students get liability insurance before teaching commences. The average policy benefit is 1 to 2 million dollars and covers a variety of issues, including libel, negligence, student injury, failure to educate and grading or personnel disputes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Student teaching handbook
• Insurance forms

1. Find and follow school guidelines. If you are enrolled in an accredited teacher education program, you will get a student teacher handbook or resource guide. Look in the table of contents or index to locate the department’s official policy regarding liability insurance.

2. Get insurance on campus. Find insurance through the student chapter of the teacher’s association in your state. When you join a student chapter, you get a discount for the same coverage as teaching professionals. Be advised that you will have to join the student teaching association and pay dues, but you will also enjoy membership on the state and national level.

3. Locate and complete the student membership form. Obtain an insurance form from the sponsor of the student association (usually a faculty member). Fill out the form with your contact information including your name, address, phone and social security number.

4. Pay the appropriate fees to get the insurance. Make checks payable according to the directions on the form (usually to the student chapter or the state association).

5. Send the insurance form. Return the form to the chapter sponsor who will forward the information or send it to the state association and await notification.

6. Provide proof to the department. When you receive your membership notification and card, go to the department of education office to have your proof of insurance verified.

Tips & Warnings

• Save your receipt, as some state teaching organizations allow you to claim a rebate on student fees after you become a professional member.
• If your campus does not have a student chapter of the state teacher association, go to the website of the teacher education association in your state and register.
• Some districts and states, such as Georgia, provide liability insurance at not cost to students engaged in student teaching.
• You can get student teaching liability insurance through other professional associations such as, Council of Exception Children and the National Association for Music Education.
• As a last resort, you can get student teaching liability insurance through most insurance companies.
• You may have to show proof of liability insurance to the school where you are student teaching.
• Student teaching liability insurance usually does not cover legal costs in the event a teacher is found guilty in criminal proceedings.

Resources

• National Education Association
• Council of Exception Children
• National Association for Music Education