The purpose of this memorandum of agreement is to specify the mission, objectives, management, personnel responsibilities, budgetary obligations, future commitments, and structure of a partnership between Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) and the School District of the City of Erie (ESD). The mission of the partnership is to close the achievement gap between people of poverty and people of privilege.

The mission-driven objectives of the partnership are as follows:

• To increase the test performances and real skills and knowledge of students in Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Strong Vincent High School.
• To increase the knowledge base and clinical skills of EUP candidates so that they are prepared to work effectively in schools with large numbers of children of poverty.

The objectives of the partnership will be met by merging the resources of EUP and ESD to create professional development schools at Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Strong Vincent High School. The following definition will guide the organization of our professional development schools:

Most colleges and universities enjoy cordial working relationships with the public schools. A professional development school (PDS) is a much more intimate and sophisticated relationship. A university and a PDS have a written agreement that identifies common goals and articulates the responsibilities of both parties. Usually, the agreement involves the president of the university, the school superintendent, the board of trustees, and the school board. The agreement provides for financial support of PDS objectives, which may include enhanced achievement for students, improved curricula in both the university and the public school, and pertinent educational research. Often, the university has a professor “in residence” at the PDS. The PDS is a training site for future teachers, but there is also an understanding that the university students and personnel have an obligation to enhance the quality of education for children. In addition, the objectives, activities, and organization of the PDS should be consistent with guidelines published by the National Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Management of the Professional Development Schools

This memorandum of agreement will not infringe upon the authority of ESD to manage ESD personnel, the physical plants, rules of conduct for visitors, and other matters essential to the operation of ESD schools. However, ESD does agree to permit modifications of curricula, new programs and activities, and action research consistent with the mission of the partnership and recommended by PDS Program Committees to the ESD Superintendent and the President of EUP or their designees.

Programs, Activities, and Research in the Professional Development Schools

Each PDS will have a Program Committee, the composition of which will be jointly determined by the ESD Superintendent and the President of EUP. The committee will make recommendations pertaining to some or all of the following:

• The site-specific redesign of clinical experiences for EUP candidates
• Team-building activities for PDS and EUP faculty
• Professional development activities for PDS and EUP faculty
• Temporary reassignments of faculty from the PDS to EUP and from EUP to PDS
• Modifications in PDS and EUP curricula
• Action research and grant writing activities directly relevant to the mission and objectives of the partnership

Edinboro University Obligations

EUP agrees to provide high quality administration and supervision for all programs associated with the PDS’s and to pay all of the usual and normal costs associated with clinical experiences at the PDS sites. EUP also agrees to provide – at no cost to ESD or its teachers - professional development, including activities designed to meet Act 48 requirements, as long as the activities are recommended by the Program Committees and approved by the ESD Superintendent and the President of EUP or their designees. The maximum amount of professional development per year will be three course credits and 21 clock hours of Act 48 activities per PDS faculty member per year. In addition, PDS faculty who work with EUP candidates will be granted the status of Affiliate University Faculty, which will include certain privileges such as free access to EUP sports events. Finally, EUP agrees to contribute $6,000 per year to support initiatives of the PDS Program Committees.

School District of the City of Erie Obligations

ESD grants EUP exclusivity in the assignment of teacher candidates to clinical experiences in the PDS schools and agrees to provide reasonable work space, photocopy privileges, and parking for EUP candidates and faculty.  ESD also agrees to dedicate teacher work days at PDS sites to activities that support the objectives of the partnership and to seek recommendations for such activities from the PDS Program Committees. Finally, ESD agrees to contribute $6,000 per year to support initiatives of the PDS Program Committees.
 
Evaluation of the Partnership

Each PDS Program Committee will be responsible for assessing the impact of the partnership on the achievement of the students and the proficiencies of EUP candidates. Conclusions and recommendations will be data-driven.

Duration of the Agreement

The partnership will continue from year to year but may be amended or dissolved by mutual agreement at any time. Either EUP or ESD may dissolve the partnership following a written explanation and a minimum of six months notice.

________________________  _______________________
Frank G. Pogue, President       James Barker, Superintendent