What legal status do student teachers jointly assigned by a teacher education institution and a local board of education retain?

Student teachers who are jointly assigned by a teacher education institution and a local board of education retain legal status primarily through the teacher education institution. This means that while they participate in teaching duties and may be subject to regulations and oversight from the local school board, their formal legal status as student teachers exists primarily with the educational institution from which they are receiving training and education. This legal status offers student teachers certain protections and may also delineate responsibilities during their teaching practice.

The nature of this arrangement emphasizes that student teachers are considered trainees, thus they are not fully licensed teachers and do not have the same legal responsibilities as regular faculty members within the local board of education's staff. This distinction is essential for ensuring clarity regarding accountability and liability in educational settings.