Partnerships

(1) All EPPs shall have a partnership with each LEA and/or CMO where enrolled candidates are placed for clinical experiences. (2) Each Tennessee-based EPP shall have at least one (1) primary partnership with an LEA or CMO in which both parties collaborate to establish an explicit process for identifying and responding to LEA- or CMO-identified areas of need, developing candidate selection criteria, and designing and implementing high-quality, needs-based clinical experiences. The primary partnership shall also establish the roles and responsibilities of EPP faculty and LEA or CMO staff, including clinical mentors and supervisors and establish clear expectations regarding the delivery of candidate support and evaluation. (3) Tennessee-based EPPs that meet the following requirements may request to establish a primary partnership with an alternate entity that oversees or manages two (2) or more schools in Tennessee: (a) The most recent completer cohort has ten (10) or fewer educators employed in a Tennessee public school; and EDUCATOR PREPARATION CHAPTER 0520-02-04 (b) The EPP provides a description of how the partnership will comply with the requirements of paragraph (2). (4) All EPPs shall establish state-recognized partnerships with LEAs and/or CMOs with which they do not have a primary partnership, but where enrolled candidates are placed for clinical experiences. State-recognized partnerships, at a minimum, shall establish the roles and responsibilities of EPP faculty and LEA or CMO staff, including clinical mentors and supervisors and establish clear expectations regarding the delivery of candidate support and evaluation. (5) Out-of-state and online EPPs that place candidates in Tennessee LEAs and/or CMOs for clinical experiences shall have formal state-recognized partnership agreements with the LEAs or CMOs hosting their candidates. This includes placement of candidates who are employed as teachers-of-record while completing preparation programs through the job embedded clinical practice option. Out-of-state and online EPPs must submit LEA and/or CMO partnership agreements to the Department in order to receive partnership recognition from the state. (6) Pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-5631, all full-time faculty members, including academic deans or executive leaders, in a Tennessee approved EPP, who are involved in the preparation of teachers, shall further their professional development through direct personal involvement in a public school or LEA on an annual basis. Each primary partnership agreement shall detail the faculty involvement. Direct faculty involvement shall include at least one (1) of the following activities: (a) Professional learning targeted to or led by pre-K through grade twelve (pre-K–12) educators; (b) Professional learning focused on local education agency-specific educational initiatives; (c) Direct instruction to pre-K through grade twelve (pre-K–12) students; (d) Curriculum development; (e) District level strategic partnerships; or (f) Direct observation of pre-K through grade twelve (pre-K–12) classrooms.