Finally, to make these guiding principles operational, each of the Partnerships will strive to implement or enhance these 12 program components:

  • Formal University-School Teacher Education Partnership Agreements
  • Direct and continuous involvement of public school educators in the design, delivery, and evaluation of teacher education curriculum and programs
  • Increases in both the number and the frequency of University faculty in schools and explicit expectations and incentives for that involvement
  • A clear continuum of specific, planned, and well-supervised early and continuous clinical experiences
  • Extended year-long (two-semester) internships for all students in their final year of preparation, including intensive clinical classroom experiences and student teaching in carefully selected school sites
  • A minimum 15 weeks of full-time involvement in schools during student teaching, including at least 10 weeks of direct involvement teaching students
  • Placement of students in schools in cohorts, especially during their extended, year-long internships
  • Cooperating and/or clinical instructors who are carefully selected, trained, and evaluated and who are paid a modest stipend for the instructional services they provide University students
  • Collaborative University-School professional development opportunities for the simultaneous improvement of teacher preparation and school programs
  • Evidence of on-going, collaborative, school-based research involving University and school faculty members
  • University resources clearly aligned with Partnership objectives and activities

A system for documenting Partnership activities, evaluating their quality, using this information to improve them, and determining their long-term impact. This collective focus on simultaneously improving preservice, induction, and the continuing professional development of teachers, counselors, administrators, and other school professionals demonstrates the joint commitment of The University of North Carolina and its Partnership schools to sharing the responsibilities, rewards, and challenges of achieving one ultimate goal: Improved performance of students enrolled in North Carolina schools.