Member Survey on Coronavirus Impact and Response

Member Survey on Coronavirus Impact and Response April 29, 2020

Survey Methodology Links to an online survey were distributed to the lead representatives for 700 AACTE member institutions on April 9, 2020 188 usable responses were submitted by the deadline of April 24, 2020 for a response rate of 27% Responses were received from at least one institution per state, except Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming

Respondent Characteristics Institution Type Number of Education Degrees Conferred 500 or more 11% Fewer than 50 23% Private Non-profit 41% Public 58% 250-499 19% 50-99 21% Private For-profit 1% 100-249 26%

Survey Topics 1. Changes to Instructional Methods 2. Adjustments to Clinical Practice and Certification Requirements 3. Anticipated Recruitment and Enrollment Impact 4. Changes to Funded Research and Program Grants 5. Most Significant Challenge Not Already Addressed on Survey www.aacte.org

Changes to Instructional Methods www.aacte.org

Has your college/school/department of education transitioned to online learning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic? 100% 1% 2% 3% 80% 60% 99% 98% 97% 40% 20% 0% Private not-for-profit Public Yes, partially online All Respondents Yes, fully online Note: Respondents had the option to select that their institution was still in a planning phase or was continuing face-to-face instruction, but no institutions selected those responses.

Which formats are you using for online instruction? 97% 100% 94% 94% 92% 92% 91% 80% 60% 40% 32% 32% 31% 19% 19% 18% 20% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Synchronous instruction Assignments but no instruction Asynchronous instruction Simulation Note: Respondents could select more than one option.

How has your school/college/department prepared students and faculty to engage in online learning? 100% 93% 91% 90% Faculty provided guidance and/or training 76% 80% 74% 71% Students provided guidance and/or training 56% 60% 53% 50% 50% 49% 48% 40% Additional software and/or third-party training for faculty and/or students Increased IT support hours and staff 20% 3% 2% 2% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Note: Respondents could select more than one option.

Have you made changes in course content, requirements, or assessments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic? 100% 88% Grading modifications (e.g. pass/fail) 85% 83% 83% 79% 78% 78% 77% 80% 69% 63% 60% Extended deadlines for assignment submission 56% 60% 40% Course assessment waivers or modifications 20% Course content modification and syllabi adjustments 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Note: Respondents could select more than one option.

How are you addressing issues of equity for students who may not have access to the internet or whose ability to complete coursework has been impacted by the pandemic? 100% Providing devices to students (e.g. laptop, tablet, etc.) 80% 73% 72% 70% 69% 68% 64% 60% Subsidizing internet connection for students (e.g. through cable company) 39% 37% 40% 34% 20% Providing accommodations for students with disabilities (e.g. screen reader, extra time, etc.) 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Note: Respondents could select more than one option.

How are you addressing issues of equity for students who may not have access to the internet or whose ability to complete coursework has been impacted by the pandemic? Additional responses: Emergency aid and pantry services Allowing students who do not have internet to stay on campus Allowing students to mail assignments if they do not have internet connectivity Have student center and/or computer labs open with precautions taken Offering students option to retake class for no charge Expanded campus wifi, including in parking lots

Adjustments to Clinical Practice and Certification Requirements www.aacte.org

Has your state modified or waived any of the following requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic? 100% 11% 19% 10% 37% 80% 10% 69% 60% 10% 40% 78% 70% 53% 20% 31% 0% Performance assessment Clinical practice/student teaching Modified Student practicum or observation hours No Change Coursework Waived

How is your school/college/department of education working with PK-12 partners to manage the continuation of clinical practice/student-teaching placements? 100% Not continuing clinical practice 78% 76% 80% 73% 60% Continuing clinical practice placements face-to-face 45% 44% 43% 40% 20% Continuing clinical placements online 6% 4% 2% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Note: Because arrangements may vary by school district, respondents could select more than one option.

What alternatives have you provided to students who have experienced an interruption to their clinical teaching placements? 100% Virtual clinical experience via simulations (i.e., Mursion and TeachLivE) 78% 77% 76% 80% 60% Supplementary projects or assessments to fulfill clinical experience 39% 40% 35% 34% 32% 31% 27% 20% Waiving semester-long clinical requirements 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Note: Respondents could select more than one option.

What alternatives have you provided to students who have experienced an interruption to their clinical teaching placements? Additional responses: Developed guidelines for completing required activities during the Fall 2020 Semester Candidates supporting online learning through tutoring, development of learning materials, and other non-traditional activities Moving candidates to districts that welcome teacher candidate participation in online learning Candidates engaged in virtual classroom observations Offering candidates opportunity to become Google Certified Educators Provided supplementary video resources (ATLAS) Tracking hours owed to make up when schools re-open Reviewing each placement on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it satisfies requirements www.aacte.org

Do you have student teachers (whose clinical practice has been terminated) who are available to continue to work under the supervision of a cooperating teacher providing unique supports such as one-on-one tutoring, adaptations for students with disabilities, or technology resources? 100% 24% 27% 29% 80% No 60% Yes 40% 76% 73% 71% 20% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents

Anticipated Recruitment and Enrollment Impact www.aacte.org

What impact do you expect the pandemic to have on continuing student enrollment this summer and fall? 100% Unsure 16% 18% 22% 7% 80% 5% 3% Substantial (25% or greater decline) 19% 18% 18% 60% Significant (11 to 25% decline) 40% 48% 51% 51% Minimal (less than 10% decline) 20% No Impact 10% 8% 7% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents

What impact do you expect the pandemic to have on new student enrollment this summer and fall? 100% Unsure 19% 24% 32% 80% 10% Substantial (25% or greater decline) 8% 5% 60% 30% 32% Significant (11 to 25% decline) 34% 40% Minimal (less than 10% decline) 34% 31% 20% 25% No Impact 7% 6% 4% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted your school/college of education s recruitment efforts for the 2020-21 academic year? 100% 3% Already completed recruitment, so no impact 4% 6% 10% 9% 9% 7% 9% 10% 80% Cancelled in-person activities and considering options 60% 40% 81% Adding new activities to compensate for possible decline in enrollment 77% 76% 20% Changed in-person activities to virtual format 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents

Changes to Funded Research and Program Grants www.aacte.org

How have funders modified grantee requirements as a result of the pandemic? 100% No changes yet 80% Extended deadlines and other grant requirements 56% 60% 52% 48% 40% Cancelled grants and/or required repayment of funds 40% 31% 19% 20% Offered funding to address interrupted grant activities 7% 6% 5% 4% 4% 0% 0% Private not-for-profit Public All Respondents Note: Respondents could select more than one option.

Additional Challenges www.aacte.org

The final question was open-ended. It asked respondents to identify their biggest challenges that had not yet been addressed on the survey. Some of the topics that respondents wrote about had been part of the survey, but their inclusion is important because they represent the most significant concerns of leaders in educator preparation. www.aacte.org

www.aacte.org

Themes of the open-ended responses Fear and uncertainty about enrollment and budgets, capacity of PK-12 schools to host field placements, and state licensure requirements Pride in the ability of faculty, students, and staff to quickly transition to an online environment Worry about stress, mental health, morale, and communication among faculty, staff, and students Concern about--and commitment to supporting under-represented students www.aacte.org

Summary www.aacte.org

Instruction Virtually all programs have transitioned to fully online instruction, using synchronous and a synchronous methods. Faculty have received training in online instruction, and IT support has increased. Many institutions are providing devices for students as needed. Field Placements and Licensure Most states have waived clinical requirements, but almost 40 percent of respondents report that their state has not adjusted its assessment policy. Access to testing was a challenge named by numerous respondents. Nearly half of respondents indicated that field placements have been discontinued for at least some of their students; uncertainties regarding field placements for the fall was a significant concern of respondents. www.aacte.org

Field Placements and Licensure (continued) Simulation is not yet a widespread option for students whose placement has been cancelled; it is being used by one-third of respondents. Three out of four respondents reporting having candidates whose placements have been cancelled and who are available to assist PK-12 schools. Recruitment and Enrollment 23 percent of respondents expect a decline in continuing student enrollment of more than 10 percent, and 40 percent expect such a decline among new students. Budget cuts due to both enrollment decreases and state funding cuts are a significant concern among respondents. www.aacte.org