PROJECT MIDSTATE STUDENT SUPPORT FOR TEACHING

School District


PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
Springfield School District 186
Decatur School District 61
(June 2005)

Project MSS is designed to recruit and to introduce local high school students (juniors and seniors) to the teaching profession and retain them through graduation. Through a series of Project requirements, such as good grades, community service hours, good conduct and class attendance, and a designed program of developmental and cultural enrichment offerings, students are encouraged to meet high school graduation requirements and college admissions standards.

One unique component of Project MSS is that this program affords students a seamless progression from high school, to community college to admission into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at the University of Illinois at Springfield (to meet teacher certification requirements for employment in Illinois school districts).

Through this Partnership Agreement, each Project MSS graduate has a two-year teaching obligation to fulfill in either Springfield 186 or Decatur 61. This Agreement confirms that upon graduating as a certified teacher, Springfield School District 186 and Decatur School District 61 will meet their obligation to hire.

Another unique component of Project MSS is that this Agreement provides participating school districts an opportunity to identify and select, as early as tenth grade, future teachers for the participating school districts.  The recruitment process utilizes a collaborative effort of institutional assistance, through the Guidance Counselor and the local district contact person. The recruitment process begins with the participating school district officials adopting Project MSS as their local official recruitment arm.  Monetary and in-kind contributions are necessary and expected towards the fulfillment of the goals of the partnership.  At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Director will request in writing a payment from the school district to support the program.  The following in-kind contributions are also expected in the partnership.

Guidance Staff:  Each school district will designate an MSS coordinator for each of the participating high schools.  These coordinators will direct the recruitment efforts and serve on the Advisory Committee.

Steering Committee: This committee has the authority to make policy governing Project MSS. It consists of the CEOs or policy-making designee of each institution in the partnership. A clear and strong statement of commitment from the district superintendent (in writing) supporting the Project must be communicated to the Steering Committee and Project Director as well.  The Project Director chairs the Steering Committee.

Advisory Committee Representative Time: The Advisory Committee for Project MSS is the implementation arm of the Project. The Advisory Committee implements policy. A representative of each school district to the Advisory Committee is essential. It would be very appropriate if this person were the school districts' academic advisor, program coordinator or Guidance Counselor. Advisory Committee meetings are bi-monthly with times arranged by the individual members. The Project Director chairs the Advisory Committee.

 

Mid-Term and End-of-Semester Grade Reports: Ongoing grade monitoring and reporting to the Program is an essential element for student retention. Retention is key to the Program’s success.  The Guidance Counselor role is critical to the reporting and retention process.

Individual and Group Counseling: Communicating with Project MSS students at the school district level on a continuous basis is essential to student success. Project MSS staff and the Counselors in the respective high schools must collaborate on strategies for encouraging individual students as well as the MSS cadre to proceed and to meet program objectives. Students must be offered assistance in meeting program requirements. Students must be encouraged to stay in the program through designated regular meetings to include enrichment activities, seminars, workshops, camp-ins, conferences and student developmental efforts, etc.

Attendance Monitoring and Reporting: Participation in Project MSS is contingent upon regular class attendance and a minimum grade point average of 2.0. The Guidance Counselor, district contact and/or building contact are key to the success of Project MSS.  Students who are not attending class regularly should be notified of probationary status. If the pattern continues, after consultation with the Project Director, a student may be dropped from the program.


This agreement is a firm commitment by the participating school districts that Project Midstate Student Support for Teaching is an important recruiting initiative for the recruitment of local teachers; that high priority be placed on direct participation in the process and all district staff are aware of this district commitment. Project Midstate Student Support for Teaching agrees that in each case where a student is not yet eighteen (18) years, parents or guardians will give permission for student participation. Since this is a joint agreement, all parties agree to the terms of this document.

 

PROJECT MIDSTATE STUDENT SUPPORT FOR TEACHING

 

Community College

 

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Lincoln Land Community College

Richland Community College

(June 2005)

 

Project MSS is designed to recruit and to introduce local community college students to the teaching profession and retain them through graduation. Through a series of Project requirements, such as good grades, community service hours, good conduct and class attendance, and a designed program of developmental and cultural enrichment offerings, students are encouraged to meet community college graduation requirements and UIS admissions standards.

One unique component of Project MSS is that this program affords students a seamless progression from high school, to community college to admission into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at the University of Illinois at Springfield (to meet teacher certification requirements for employment in Illinois school districts).

Through this Partnership Agreement, each Project MSS graduate has a two-year teaching obligation to fulfill in either Springfield 186 or Decatur 61. This Agreement confirms that upon graduating as a certified teacher, Springfield School District 186 and Decatur School District 61 will meet their obligation to hire.

Monetary and in-kind contributions are necessary and expected towards the fulfillment of the goals of the partnership.  At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Director will request in writing a payment from the community college to support the program.  The following in-kind contributions are also expected in the partnership.

MSS Advisor Each community college will designate a member of its Advising and Counseling staff as the MSS Advisor.  This person will work with the Program staff in directing monitoring and retention efforts as well as program coordination.  This person serves on the Advisory Committee.

Steering Committee: This committee has the authority to make policy governing Project MSS. It consists of the CEOs or policy-making designee of each institution in the partnership. A clear and strong statement of commitment from the district superintendent (in writing) supporting the Project must be communicated to the Steering Committee and Project Director as well.  The Project Director chairs the Steering Committee.

Advisory Committee Representative Time: The Advisory Committee for Project MSS is the implementation arm of the Project. The Advisory Committee implements policy. A representative of each school district to the Advisory Committee is essential. It would be very appropriate if this person were the school districts' academic advisor, program coordinator or Guidance Counselor. Advisory Committee meetings are bi-monthly with times arranged by the individual members. The Project Director chairs the Advisory Committee.

 

Mid-Term and End-of-Semester Grade Reports: Ongoing grade monitoring and reporting to the Program is an essential element for student retention. Retention is key to the Program’s success.  The Guidance Counselor role is critical to the reporting and retention process.

Individual and Group Counseling: Communicating with Project MSS students at the school district level on a continuous basis is essential to student success. Project MSS staff and the Counselors in the respective high schools must collaborate on strategies for encouraging individual students as well as the MSS cadre to proceed and to meet program objectives. Students must be offered assistance in meeting program requirements. Students must be encouraged to stay in the program through designated regular meetings to include enrichment activities, seminars, workshops, camp-ins, conferences and student developmental efforts, etc.

Attendance Monitoring and Reporting: Participation in Project MSS is contingent upon regular class attendance and a minimum grade point average of 2.0. The Guidance Counselor, district contact and/or building contact are key to the success of Project MSS.  Students who are not attending class regularly should be notified of probationary status. If the pattern continues, after consultation with the Project Director, a student may be dropped from the program.


This agreement is a firm commitment by the participating school districts that Project Midstate Student Support for Teaching is an important recruiting initiative for the recruitment of local teachers; that high priority be placed on direct participation in the process and all district staff are aware of this district commitment. Project Midstate Student Support for Teaching agrees that in each case where a student is not yet eighteen (18) years, parents or guardians will give permission for student participation. Since this is a joint agreement, all parties agree to the terms of this document.

 

 

 

 

PROJECT MIDSTATE STUDENT SUPPORT FOR TEACHING

 

University of Illinois at Springfield

 

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

(June 2005)

 

Project MSS is designed to recruit teaching candidates for the local Springfield and Decatur communities and to retain them through graduation. Through a series of Project requirements, such as good grades, community service hours, good conduct and class attendance, and a designed program of developmental and cultural enrichment offerings, students are encouraged to meet UIS graduation requirements and ISBE certification requirements.

One unique component of Project MSS is that this program affords students a seamless progression from high school, to community college to admission into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at the University of Illinois at Springfield (to meet teacher certification requirements for employment in Illinois school districts).

Through this Partnership Agreement, each Project MSS graduate has a two-year teaching obligation to fulfill in either Springfield 186 or Decatur 61. This Agreement confirms that upon graduating as a certified teacher, Springfield School District 186 and Decatur School District 61 will meet their obligation to hire.

The University of Illinois at Springfield serves as the fiscal manager of the MSS Program and the program is housed in the Brookens Building, Room 327.  .  The Director of the Program is also a professor of Teacher Education at UIS.  The following in-kind contributions are also expected in the partnership.

 

Project Director:  0.33 fte faculty position from August 16-June 15. 

Graduate AssistantA graduate assistantship will be designated to the Midstate Student Support for Teaching Program.

Clerical Staff:  A 0.5 fte clerical position will be assigned to the Midstate Student Support for Teaching Program.

Office SpaceThe Midstate Student Support for Teaching offices will be housed in the Brookens Building at the University of Illinois @ Springfield.

Meeting Rooms/Telecommunication:  Facilities to accommodate Advisory Committee and Steering Committee meetings will be provided by UIS. 

Steering Committee: This committee has the authority to make policy governing Project MSS. It consists of the CEOs or policy-making designee of each institution in the partnership.  The Project Director chairs the Steering Committee.  The Dean of Education and Human Services and the administrator for Grants and Contracts will serve as members of this committee.

Advisory Committee Representative Time: The Advisory Committee for Project MSS is the implementation arm of the Project. The Advisory Committee implements policy. A representative of each school district to the Advisory Committee is essential.  A member of the Teacher Education faculty is expected to serve on this committee.  The Project Director chairs the Advisory Committee.

 

Retention CoursesTwo courses will be included in the Teacher Education curriculum for Project MSS students.

 

Tuition WaiversThe university will designate tuition waivers for the MSS Program.

This agreement is a firm commitment by the participating school districts, community colleges and the University of Illinois at Springfield.  Project Midstate Student Support for Teaching agrees that in each case where a student is not yet eighteen (18) years, parents or guardians will give permission for student participation. Since this is a joint agreement, all parties agree to the terms of this document.

 

 

 

 

MSS | Home