MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY
AND SIXTEEN (16) LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES
(BEAUFORT, BERTIE, CAMDEN, CURRITUCK, DARE, EDGECOMBE, ELIZABETH CITY/PASQUOTANK,
EDENTON/CHOWAN, FRANKLIN, GATES, HALIFAX, HERTFORD, HYDE, MARTIN, NASH/ROCKY
MOUNT, NORTHAMPTON, PERQUIMANS, TYRELL, VANCE, WASHINGTON, WARREN)
THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) is entered into by and between ELIZABETH
CITY STATE UNIVERSITY, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, hereinafter
“ECSU” and 16 Local Education Agencies, hereinafter “LEA.”
PURPOSE
The purpose of this agreement is to delineate and clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Elizabeth
City State University’s Teacher Education Program and the cooperating Local Education Agencies (LEA)
for Student Field Experiences and Clinical Practice I &II.
Early Field Experience- Classroom Observation/Participation prior to admission into Teacher Education
Clinical Practice I- Observation/Participation (the semester prior to student teaching)
Clinical Practice II- Student Teaching
I.
EARLY FIELD EXPERIENCE
A. SITE ASSIGNMENTS
1. ECSU will inform the appropriate LEA personnel of early field experience and student
teaching placement requests, including, grade level, teaching area. Requests will be
submitted to LEAs once students have registered for field experience.
Early field experience is a supervised field experience. Various placements will be
requested. During supervised placements, faculty visit schools.
2. Only the designated LEA personnel and ECSU personnel are responsible for requesting
and confirming site assignments. Site Assignments should be confirmed in writing.
Electronic mail is acceptable.
3. ECSU will assure that students have met all prerequisites, including GPA, criminal
background clearance, and/or admission to Teacher Education, (as applicable) prior to the
beginning of the placement. ECSU will withdraw applicants of students who have not
met the above prerequisites.
CLINICAL PRACTICE I&II (Year-Long Student Teaching)
II
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS CLINICAL PRACTICE II
A. Students will be required to sign a document acknowledging the guidelines for successfully
completing Clinical Practice I & II. Clinical Practice I (field experience) students will
complete no more than 60 hours in one semester.
B. Students are required to complete specific evidences as mandated by the Department of
Public Instruction for the State of North Carolina.
C. Student teachers are required to complete 70 days of student teaching during Clinical Practice
II.
D. Students may be released early from student teacher after the completion of 50 successful
days to accept employment. An Early Release form must be initiated by the employing
school.
III
SELECTION OF LEA COOPERATING TEACHER
A. To serve as a cooperating teacher, the candidate must have completed
a minimum of four years of successful teaching and completed mentor training. A master’s
degree in the licensure area and/or National Board Certification is recommended, but NOT
required.
B. Selection as a cooperating teacher is the responsibility of ECSU and the LEA.
C. The cooperating teacher must be highly qualified and licensed in the field for which he or she
is being asked to mentor a candidate and must teach in that area for at least 50% of the school
day during the Clinical Practice II.
IV.
PREPARATION FOR THE ROLE OF COOPERATING TEACHER
A. ECSU and the LEAs will provide support and extended training opportunities for
cooperating teachers when needed and as available.
B. The selected cooperating teacher will attend a training provided by ECSU to assist in
preparing for the role at the beginning of Clinical Practice I. Selected teachers will also
attend a TRIAD meeting (cooperating teacher, university supervisor, student teacher) at
the beginning of Clinical Practice II.
C. Cooperating teachers will be provided with a Clinical Practice II Booklet for specific
guidelines.
D. The cooperating teacher will complete the LEA/IHE/Certification of Teaching Capacity
form in Taskstream and will be encouraged to evaluate student portfolios. This is on a
voluntary basis, but highly suggested.
VI
SITE TERMINATION
A. A cooperating teacher may initiate an intervention and/or termination of a placement after
consultation with the ECSU university supervisor and/or university administrator. ECSU
recognizes that students must comply with all LEA policies and procedures. When a
violation of policy occurs, the LEA will notify ECSU of the concern(s), and, if requested
by the LEA, ECSU will remove the student from the setting, thus terminating the
placement.
B. ECSU will notify the LEA if a student must be removed for any reason. These reasons
can be, but are not limited to: tardiness, absences, grades, unacceptable behavior, not
following guidelines set forth.
C. The ECSU supervisor and other designated ECSU personnel will conference with the
student to explain any termination of placement to the student teacher.
D. A letter explaining the placement termination will be sent by ECSU to the cooperating
teacher and/or school administrator. Electronic mail is acceptable.
VII
DURATION OF MOU/TERMINATION
This MOU shall continue in force from the date of full execution until July 31, 2016, provided
both parties remain committed to the objectives herein. Thereafter, the parties may enter into a
subsequent MOU by mutual consent. The MOU may be terminated by either party with ninety
(90) days advance written notice to the other party.
VIII
GOVERNING LAW
A. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina.
B. Each party expressly agrees to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of
North Carolina should litigation arise between the two parties.
IX
ANNUAL REVIEW
This MOU shall be reviewed annually by the parties to determine if it needs to be modified and
whether or not it will be continued without modification for the ensuing year.
X
MISCELLANEOUS
A. ECSU and the LEA shall work in a cooperative spirit to enhance programs and services to
mutual clientele;
B. ECSU the LEA shall work in a collaborative manner to enhance the Teacher Education
Program to service the students, school systems, and citizens of Northeastern North Carolina.
XI
ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING
This MOU contains the entire understandings between the parties and may be amended by mutual
written agreement.
By:________________________________________
Dr. Charles L. Becton
Interim Chancellor
Elizabeth City State University
Date:_______________________________
7-29-13
By:__________________________________
Superintendent
Date:______________________________