Good afternoon, Please see email below that was just sent to student. Best, Dara Dara Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director of Teacher Education and Student Success Education Support Center, Memorial Hall 7230/40 JMU College of Education 540-568-2996 From: Teached Education Correspondence <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of College of Education Sent: Monday, August 3, 2020 1:55 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Update on Field Experiences in Fall 2020 - August 3, 2020 Dear Education Students, I hope this email finds you in good health! As a follow up to the Update on Field Experiences email (below) sent on July 17th, I want to share some additional important information for any education students who are scheduled for a field experience in the fall, please read this carefully: Why is JMU planning field experience placements during COVID? Unlike other majors, teacher education is a pre-professional program. This means that our programs are bound by state regulations. In order to be licensed as a teacher, our students (a.k.a. teacher candidates) must meet the state-approved coursework aligned to licensure regulations and meet legislatively mandated criteria. The good news is that the state has approved the following: All candidates completing field placements in schools that are open for face-to-face instruction (even modified schedules) should complete the majority of their hours in face-to-face environments. All candidates completing student teaching/internships/practicums must adhere to the school division’s attendance and hours of operation schedule, as well as the modality of instruction (face-to-face, hybrid, or virtual). Virtual hours completed at schools that are only open virtually will be accepted. If schools that begin teaching only virtually are later opened for face-to-face instruction, the candidates should complete the majority of their remaining hours of the field experience in the face-to-face environment. This means that we can use the modality of instruction that is being determined by the school division. Therefore, we are continuing to make placements for our practicum students and student teachers for the fall. IMPORTANT: Some field experience students will be placed in divisions that have already or may at some point choose a virtual modality of instruction, and those candidates may be working with a cooperating teacher face-to-face or the mentorship and instruction may be entirely virtual. Other students will be placed in school divisions that will have a hybrid modality of instruction, where our candidates will be in the school and get to work with students face-to-face. Please know that due to the size of our programs, the availability of mentor teachers, and the complexity of the placement process, it is not possible for a student to choose what placement they will be placed in. This may all be a moot point if all schools move to virtual instruction... we just don't know what will happen yet! Are there options if I don't feel comfortable with field experience? Field experience students should work with their program on options if they do not feel like a field experience in the fall is right for them. Each case is different, but because a field experience is a required part of the approved education programs, the general options are: 1. If there is a medical concern, work with your program. They will likely recommend working with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to document your situation and they will determine the best decision with you. The VDOE has indicated that in documented cases of candidates (or those who live with them) at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, programs have flexibility to make placements for the health and well-being of these candidates. 2. If you do not have a medical concern, but you may be concerned about field experience under the current circumstances, your program/academic advisor can help provide guidance regarding deferring placements/education coursework and/or revising your program of study plan. While a decision to delay or alter a program plan is not an easy choice, it may be the best choice for some students, and ultimately it is up to each individual. Unfortunately, due to licensure regulations, programs do not have flexibility to create alternative field experience options in this situation. Why do I need to complete an Acknowledgement of Risk Form? The Acknowledgement of Risk form is a state requirement. Students MUST sign the form in order to participate in field experience this fall. The form is now ready! You can fill it out now, but it must be completed before you begin your field experience: Access the form at: https://www.jmu.edu/academic-affairs/covid/acknowledge-<https://www.jmu.edu/academic-affairs/covid/acknowledge-risk/coeform/index.shtml>risk/coeform/index.shtml<https://www.jmu.edu/academic-affairs/covid/acknowledge-risk/coeform/index.shtml> To complete the form, first enter your MyMadison username and password. You will receive an email receipt when you complete it. Keep a copy for your records! How will JMU ensure my safety during field experience? Unfortunately, there are no guarantees during COVID-19, this is why you are acknowledging that you understand the risks. But we care about your health! As a pre-professional, please understand that you are putting yourself at risk as are the mentor teacher and the P-12 students who you may be working with. As indicated in the email below - you will be required to follow (at minimum) the protocols set up by the school division you are placed in. These protocols are still being revised as building administrators work on classroom capacity and configurations within CDC and state guidelines, but you will receive a copy of the protocol as part of your placement information. At minimum they will include self-health monitoring, physical distancing, face masks, hand-washing, etc. The JMU protocols will be similar to those you will experience in a school setting. Please review the very important information about JMU safety protocols you received from Dr. Tim Miller. When do I receive my placement? * For practicum, as always, your program/instructor will be sharing your placement information after the semester begins. * Student teachers will continue to receive an email with their placements as they are confirmed. If you have any questions or concerns after reviewing this, please feel free to reach out and contact me at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Take good care, Dara Dara Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director of Teacher Education and Student Success Education Support Center JMU College of Education 540-568-2996 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ________________________________ From: Teached Education Correspondence <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of College of Education Sent: Friday, July 17, 2020 3:06 PM To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Update on Field Experiences in Fall 2020 Dear Education Students, This message is being sent to all active education students (students who have applied to teacher education); however, if you are not in any field experience in fall 2020, you can disregard this message. If you are anticipating attending a field experience, please read this carefully: I hope this email finds you in good health! As we plan for the fall semester, with all of its unknowns, I want to share the most up to date information I have related to field experience (practicum and student teaching) for fall 2020. At this time we are planning for practicum students and student teachers to attend face-to-face field experiences in the fall. Of course, this is all subject to change and dependent on school opening decisions. If you have any questions or concerns after reviewing this, please feel free to contact me at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Practicum: Most of our practicum experiences take place in our seven local school divisions (Augusta, Harrisonburg, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Staunton, Waynesboro). I have met with all seven local school divisions and they recognize that there is great value in placements, they are open and welcome to receiving practicum students, and with so many unknowns in instruction they see this as an opportunity for practicum students and their mentor teachers to learn together! As we navigate these unprecedented times, please be patient and flexible – · Experiences may start later than usual. Some schools are opening later than normal. · We are working hard to get everyone placed! It is a giant puzzle placing students right now. Schools are only having students present face-to-face for 4 days/week (different divisions won’t have students on certain days - either Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays). We cannot place you on days when there are no students present. · We are being asked to spread out even more than usual into all schools in our local divisions to limit the number of bodies in a building. Therefore, you may need to be placed at a further distance and/or on days with fewer field experience students. For practicum, please be aware – 1. In addition to the practicum information form (see practicum information at https://www.jmu.edu/coe/esc/fieldexperience.shtml), the state is requiring anyone attending a school-based placement to fill out a COVID-19 Acknowledgement of Risk Form. You will not be able to attend a field placement without it. It will be sent out at the beginning of the semester. 2. For licensure regulations - The expectation to meet the requirements of your program are to complete practicum in a school in a face-to-face environment. However, if there is a health consideration or other situation where you are concerned about being physically present in a school this fall, please reach out to your education advisor. They will share your concern with the program coordinator and Academic Unit Head to help you navigate your concern. 3. Practicum students MUST follow any school protocols in the division they are being placed. These will minimally include self-screening, good hygiene, mask wearing and physical distancing. As a representative of the school you are placed in, you will be encouraged to follow safety protocols even when outside the building so that if you run into parents and students you are modeling the state recommended guidelines. 4. University supervisors may be meeting with you and your cooperating teacher remotely to lessen the number of bodies in the building. You may be videotaping your lessons for remote observations. 5. You will be encouraged to make good, professional decisions about exposure when working in schools. Therefore, you will be asked to refrain from travel over weekends and breaks whenever possible and will need to follow any school division policies about quarantines. Schools are very concerned about practicum students being careful to not spread the coronavirus through unsafe practices. We believe that as responsible pre-professionals, you will make good decisions! Student teaching: If you are scheduled as a fall student teacher, we are working on your placements in some divisions. You may have already received your placements if they were confirmed and you met all requirements for student teaching. Some important information to date: To meet current licensure regulations - All student teaching candidates must be placed with a cooperating teacher who is physically present in the school and primarily providing instruction in face-to-face environments. Some of your experience will likely be planning and instructing in virtual learning environments, but the majority of your experience must be in-person instruction. Reminder: You will begin working with your cooperating teacher on August 26th whether or not students have begun. Important note – I know that some school boards (e.g. PWCS) have decided that instruction will be only virtual (not face-to-face) until late October. This will affect the current VDOE licensure regulations. I am waiting for a response from the state now and I will contact our fall student teachers directly when I know more!! For student teaching, please be aware – 1. In addition to the background check requirement for your school division(s), the state is requiring anyone attending a school-based placement to fill out a COVID-19 Acknowledgement of Risk Form. You will not be able to attend a field placement without it. It will be sent out at the beginning of the semester. 2. Student teachers MUST follow any school protocols in the division they are placed. These will minimally include self-screening, good hygiene, mask wearing and physical distancing. As a representative of the school you are placed in, you will be encouraged to follow safety protocols even when outside the building so that if you run into parents and students you are modeling the state recommended guidelines. 3. University supervisors may be meeting with you and your cooperating teacher remotely to lessen the number of bodies in the building. You may be videotaping your lessons for remote observations. 4. You will be encouraged to make good, professional decisions about exposure when you are working in schools. Therefore, you will be asked to refrain from travel over weekends and breaks whenever possible and will need to follow any school division policies about quarantines. Schools are very concerned about student teachers being careful to not spread the coronavirus through unsafe practices. We believe that as responsible pre-professionals, you will make good decisions! This is an exciting opportunity for you as a teacher candidate to learn from this unique experience about the importance of flexibility and resiliency in the teaching profession. Again, let me know if you have questions. Wishing you all good health and good spirits! Best, Dara Dara Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director of Teacher Education and Student Success Education Support Center, Memorial Hall 7230/40 JMU College of Education 540-568-2996 ############################ To unsubscribe from the COE-TEACHERED-L list: write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]<mailto:mailto:[log in to unmask]> or click the following link: http://listserv.jmu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=COE-TEACHERED-L&A=1 ############################ To unsubscribe from the COE-TEACHERED-L list: write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]<mailto:mailto:[log in to unmask]> or click the following link: http://listserv.jmu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=COE-TEACHERED-L&A=1 ############################ To unsubscribe from the COE-TEACHER-EDUCATION-UNIT-L list: write to: mailto:[log in to unmask] or click the following link: http://listserv.jmu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=COE-TEACHER-EDUCATION-UNIT-L&A=1