As used in this Article, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)        Approved EPP. – An EPP that has been approved by the State Board as meeting the requirements established by rule, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-269.10

(2)        Authorized EPP. – An EPP that (i) has met the accountability performance standards described in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-269.35 and (ii) has been approved by the State Board or accredited by CAEP to prepare, train, and recommend students for licensure.

(3)        CAEP. – Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

(4)        Clinical educator. – An individual employed by a partner school, including a classroom teacher, who assesses, supports, and develops a clinical intern’s knowledge, skills, and professional disposition during an internship.

(5)        Clinical intern or intern. – Any student enrolled in a recognized EPP who is jointly assigned by that EPP and a local board of education to teach under the direction and supervision of a clinical educator, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-269.25

(6)        Clinical internship or internship. – Type of field experience in which a clinical intern works under the supervision of a clinical educator and may be delegated those duties granted to an educator by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-307 and any other part of the school program for which the clinical educator is responsible.

(7)        Clinical mentor or mentor. – An individual employed by an elementary or secondary school, including a classroom teacher, who assesses, supports, and develops a clinical resident’s knowledge, skills, and professional disposition during the residency.

(8)        Clinical residency or residency. – Type of field experience in which a clinical resident who already holds a bachelor’s degree is enrolled in a recognized EPP and also employed by a local school administrative unit as an educator and supervised by the recognized EPP in partial fulfillment of the recognized EPP’s training requirements.

(9)        Clinical resident. – Any student who meets the following criteria:

a.         Holds a bachelor’s degree.

b.         Is enrolled in a recognized EPP.

c.         Is employed by a local school administrative unit as an educator and supervised by the recognized EPP in partial fulfillment of the recognized EPP’s training requirements.

(10)      Educator preparation program or EPP. – Any entity that prepares, trains, and recommends students for teacher licensure.

(11)      Field experience. – Placement of students enrolled in a recognized EPP in settings to provide opportunities to observe, practice, and demonstrate knowledge and skills. A field experience may include preclinical classroom experiences.

(12)      Field supervisor. – An individual who is employed by a recognized EPP to observe students, monitor their performance, and provide constructive feedback to improve their effectiveness as educators during their clinical internship or residency.

(13)      Initially authorized EPP. – An EPP that has been either approved by the State Board or accredited by CAEP to prepare, train, and recommend students for licensure, but lacks data required by the performance standards described in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-269.35

(14)      Partner school. – An elementary or secondary school located in North Carolina that includes (i) a public school governed by a local board of education, a charter school board of directors, a regional school board of directors, or a UNC laboratory school board of trustees; (ii) a Department of Defense Elementary and Secondary School established pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2164; and (iii) a nonpublic school that meets the requirements of Part 1 or 2 of Article 39 of this Chapter.

(15)      Recognized educator preparation program or recognized EPP. – An entity that is initially authorized or authorized by the State Board to recommend students for educator licensure.

(16)      Student. – An individual enrolled in a recognized educator preparation program. ?(2017-189, s. 2(i).)