MEMORANDUM

OF UNDERSTANDING
Between 2014-2017

American University and Montgomery County Public Schools

Professional Development School (PDS) Partnership
The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and American University (AU) Professional
Development Schools (PDS) partnership is designed in accordance with the following goals of
the Redesign of Teacher Education in Maryland:

Enhance professional development of pre-service teachers through a clinically based

teacher education program
Continuous professional development for teachers and college faculty
Inquiry into refinement of effective practices
Maximization of student achievement

1. Purpose:
This partnership will provide a laboratory at Walt Whitman HS, Wood Acres ES, and
Bethesda ES, located in Montgomery County, MD, for AU School of Education students to
participate in field experiences and internships. AU student-interns will learn best practices
in teaching within real-world settings under the direction of MCPS supervising-teachers, as
the student-interns prepare to become K-12 classroom teachers. MCPS will benefit from the
student-interns work with students in the PDS and from the collaborative professional
development opportunities offered to PDS stakeholders. The partnership will support
constituent groups in improving K-12 student achievement and provide opportunities for
teacher-interns, in-service teachers, school administrators, MCPS personnel, and university
faculty to observe, teach, collaborate, analyze and reflect.
2. Term of Agreement:
This MOU is in effect from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017. The MOU may be renewed by
mutual written agreement for a specified period of time.
3. PDS Principals:
The PDS is governed by PDS standards established by the Maryland State Department of
Education (MSDE).
According to MSDE, a minimum of five student-interns must be placed at a MCPS
school for it to be considered a PDS. The PDS and AU will share in decisions
determining number of student-interns placed.
The PDS will work with AU teacher-interns throughout their internship in a cohort
during Fall/Spring or Spring/Fall rotations.
4. Culturally Diverse Settings:
MCPS recognizes the value of cultural and ethnic diversity. Each party to the agreement will
endeavor to assure that all internship placements are made with this objective in mind.
5. Benefits of PDS partnership to stakeholders:
American University

Page 1 of 4

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between 2014-2017

American University and Montgomery County Public Schools

K-12 students will:
Receive additional academic and emotional support
Have added opportunities for remediation and enrichment through one-on-one and/or
small group instruction specifically focused on students needs
Participate in flexible groups, reduced group size and differentiated instruction as the
teacher candidates and mentor teachers implement co-teaching strategies in the classroom
Be supported in improved academic achievement, as measured by a variety of formal and
informal assessments, through teacher-interns and supervising-teachers making informed
instructional decisions based on analysis of student data
PDS Staff will:
Benefit from flexible student groups, reduced student group size, and differentiated
instruction as student-interns and supervising-teachers implement co-teaching strategies
in the classroom
Work collaboratively with AU on professional development opportunities for teacherinterns, in-service teachers, school administrators, MCPS personnel and AU faculty
MCPS will:
Develop a pool of highly qualified teacher candidates
Have opportunities to provide input and share ideas to enhance the AU Teacher
Education program
Benefit from professional development opportunities offered to PDS staff by AU faculty
Work with AU to meet the NCATE/CAEP and Maryland State PDS Standards
AU will:
Meet the NCATE and Maryland State PDS Standards
Benefit from sharing the results of research conducted by PDS staff and/or teacherinterns within the PDS to keep abreast of best practices in teaching
Benefit from the collaboratively planned professional development opportunities offered
to PDS staff
Studentinterns will:
Have the opportunity to learn and practice instructional best practices in the classroom
environment and therefore gain a comprehensive understanding of the social context of
the school environment
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities that a teacher has to the
students, school and community
Be supported throughout their 70-day (minimum) internship by highly qualified MCPS
teachers and AU PDS supervisors and coordinators
Have opportunities to observe and reflect on their teaching with their supervisingteachers and university supervisors and coordinators
Gain an understanding of data driven instruction as they work and plan with their
supervising-teachers
6. Roles and Responsibilities of the Parties:
American University

Page 2 of 4

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between 2014-2017

American University and Montgomery County Public Schools

AU will:
Work with MCPS to offer PDS staff professional development opportunities during
internship rotations
Collaborate with MCPS and PDS coordinator in orienting school administrators to the
understandings of being a PDS and to the PDS standards
Participate in PDS leadership meetings to share expertise about teacher development and
student achievement
MCPS will:
Provide AU education students with field placements for their internships
Provide classroom field experiences and individual supervising-teachers for AU studentinterns
Send HEP representatives to PDS Leadership meetings among the university partners that
have PDS collaborative relationships, to share expertise about teacher development and
student achievement
Compensate supervising-teachers at the rate of $50.00 per week pending budget approval
and per MCEA contract agreement.
7.

Indemnification:
This MOU shall be governed by, subject to, and construed according to the laws of the State
of Maryland. Both Parties shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. No
waiver, alteration, or modification of any provisions of this MOU shall be binding unless
evidenced by written agreement signed by duly authorized representatives of the Parties. The
MOU represents the entire and integrated agreement between the Parties and supersedes all
prior and contemporaneous negotiations, representations, or agreements, whether written,
electronic, oral, or by course of conduct.

8. Dispute Resolution:
In the event of any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
memorandum of understanding, the parties shall consult and negotiate with each other and,
recognizing their mutual interests, attempt to reach a solution satisfactory to all parties.
9. Termination Clause:
This agreement may be terminated prior to its expiration date upon the occurrence of any of
the following events:
By mutual agreement of the parties;
By either party no less than 30 days after providing the other party with written notice of
the intent to terminate.
Agreement to Initiate:
This MOU constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes all previous
agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This MOU may not be
American University

Page 3 of 4

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between 2014-2017

American University and Montgomery County Public Schools

altered, amended or modified except by a written instrument signed by the duly authorized
representatives of both Parties.
Montgomery County Public Schools

Larry Bowers
Chief Operating Officer

Signature: __________________________

Nicola Diamond
Signature: _________________________
Acting Associate Superintendent
Office of Human Resources and Development

Date _______

Date ________

American University
Signature: __________________________

Date _______

Signature: __________________________

Date _______

American University

Page 4 of 4