1. Strategies for Promoting Equity with Diverse Student Populations: Students in Rural Communities 1

2. easn.grads360.org Introductions 2 Please tell us: Your Name Your State Your Role What you hope to get out of today’s session

3. easn.grads360.org Objectives 3 Participants will: Share the equity gaps they identified for access to excellent educators in rural areas Identify and discuss current and new strategies to address rural-based equity gaps Address a state-specific problem of practice in implementing an equity strategy Discuss additional support needed to implement these strategies

4. easn.grads360.org Agenda 4 1. Introductions & Objectives (5 minutes) 2. Equity Gaps Across States (5 minutes) 3. Strategies for Addressing Gaps in Rural Areas (15 minutes) 4. Problem of Practice Exercise (25 minutes) 5. Group Discussion and Closing (10 minutes)

5. easn.grads360.org State Equity Gaps 5

6. easn.grads360.org Alabama 6 Percent Teachers Not Highly Qualified Percent Teachers Without Certification Percent Teachers in First Year Low Poverty Schools 2.7.7 3.5 High Poverty Schools5.5.7 4.9 Poverty Gap2.80 1.4 Low Minority Schools3.31.5 3.1 High Minority Schools5.5.9 5 Minority Gap2.2.6 1.9

7. easn.grads360.org Georgia 7 High Poverty Schools School Type % Teachers in First Year Average Years Experience % Teachers "Out of Field" % Classes Taught by Teachers Not Highly Qualified Adjusted Average Teacher Salary % Teacher Turnover % Principal Turnover Mean Growth Percentile All Schools5.6%13.51.6%1.1%$56,23517.1%18.7%49.1 City7.6%12.72.2%2.1%$56,31522.4%28.3%47.9 Suburb9.4%11.62.3%1.0%$49,87021.3%17.3%47.8 Town4.7%141.5%0.7%$61,21118.4%22.0%46.5 Rural5.6%13.41.9%1.0%$58,25518.0%22.0%46.9 Low Poverty Schools4.4%141.5%0.6%55,45214.3%15.5%51.5 High Minority Schools School Type % Teachers in First Year Average Years Experience % Teachers "Out of Field" % Classes Taught by Teachers Not Highly Qualified Adjusted Average Teacher Salary % Teacher Turnover % Principal Turnover Mean Growth Percentile All Schools 5.6%13.51.6%1.1%$56,23517.1%18.7%49.0 City 8.8%12.22.2%2.3%$55,98424.2%27.8%48.0 Suburb 9.5%11.52.4%1.8%$49,82722.6%16.2%48.4 Town 7.3%132.0%3.6%$59,78221.7%20.0%45.0 Rural 8.6%12.41.1%3.1%$54,67422.9%31.8%47.6 Low Minority Schools 3.5%14.990.0%40.0%$58,65413.4%16.5%50.4

8. easn.grads360.org Mississippi 8 Percent Teachers Inappropriately Licensed* Percent Teachers in First Three Years Low Poverty Schools615 High Poverty Schools1537 Poverty Gap922 Low Minority Schools615 High Minority Schools1739 Minority Gap1124 * Teachers who are out of field or have an emergency license

9. easn.grads360.org North Carolina 9 High Poverty Schools Percent teachers in first year Percent teachers without certification Percent classes taught by teachers who are not highly qualified Percent teachers absent more than 10 daysAverage teacher salary All Schools6.321.230.5$41,208.00 City9.81.51.337.8$36,048.00 Suburb8.20.7 29.2$40,267.00 Town8.31.62.627.4$43,314.00 Rural82.61.833.4$41,933.00 Low Poverty Schools4.92.21.229.8$40,634.00 High Minority Schools Percent teachers in first year Percent teachers without certification Percent classes taught by teachers who are not highly qualified Percent teachers absent more than 10 daysAverage teacher salary All Schools 6.321.230.5$41,208.00 City 91.71.435.6$36,716.00 Suburb 9.10.70.933.6$39,215.00 Town 9.82.53.327.9$42,644.00 Rural 8.85.52.831.4$41,065.00 Low Minority Schools 4.510.925.8$44,134.00

10. easn.grads360.org South Carolina 10 % Non Highly Qualified Teachers % Teachers not returning from previous year Teacher attendance rate Average teacher salary Teacher Days in Professional Development Student Teacher Ratio Principal's Years at School Performance Rating (Federal Accountability System) Low Poverty Schools 3.511.395.3$49,49710.922.95.791.1 (A) High Poverty Schools 7.919.695$46,0231118.64.564.3 (D) Percent Difference 125.7%73.5%0.3%7.0%0.9%18.8%21.1%29.4% Low Minority Schools 2.910.395.2$49,38311.321.7690.6 (A) High Minority Schools 7.620.295.2$46,26810.8194.465.8 (D) Percent Difference 162.0%96.1%0.0%6.7%4.4%12.4%26.7%27.4%

11. easn.grads360.org Texas 11 First Year TeachersHighly Qualified Teachers Low PovertyHigh Poverty Gap Low PovertyHigh PovertyGap All schools 6.211.85.698.999.70.8 Major Suburban 4.89.34.510099.8-0.2 Major Urban 4.610.76.199.999.2-0.7 Rural 5.712.16.499.197.3-1.8 First Year TeachersHighly Qualified Teachers Low MinorityHigh Minority Gap Low MinorityHigh MinorityGap All schools 6.211.85.698.999.70.8 Major Suburban 4.89.34.510099.8-0.2 Major Urban 4.610.76.199.999.2-0.7 Rural 5.712.16.499.197.3-1.8

12. easn.grads360.org Equity Gaps Prioritized Across All States 12

13. easn.grads360.org State Strategies for Addressing Rural Gaps 13

14. easn.grads360.org Alabama 14 Strategies for improving access in rural areas: Expand teacher recruitment through the Professional Pathways for Alabama Teachers Establish community-based incentives to retain teachers in hard-to-staff areas Create targeted recruitment incentives in hard-to-staff areas by partnering with local teacher preparation programs Advocate for higher salaries for teachers and leaders in high-needs schools Continue implementation of ACCESS Distance Learning Program

15. easn.grads360.org Georgia 15 Strategies for improving access in rural areas: Support alternative preparation programs to increase the availability of effective teachers in rural areas Provide professional learning to support knowledge and skills needed by teachers and system school level leaders as they work with minority students and students in poverty Provide continued support through the 16 Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA)

16. easn.grads360.org Mississippi 16 Strategies for improving access in rural areas: Increase pre-service recruitment through existing programs such as Teacher Academy and Educators Rising Establish a Grow Your Own Educators program to create a pipeline of effective educators in high-needs areas Host cultural competence trainings to improve relationships between schools and local communities Improve retention through teacher mentorships and career pathways

17. easn.grads360.org North Carolina 17 Strategies for improving access in rural areas: Expand access to North Carolina Virtual Public Schools Expand access to teacher preparation and induction programs Encourage strong teachers to stay through Regional Leadership Academies Offer financial incentives for teachers to stay in hard-to- staff schools Improve technology in classrooms statewide and allow for equal access to instructional opportunities

18. easn.grads360.org South Carolina 18 Strategies for improving access in rural areas: Support and build out a talent pipeline to lead new teachers to high-needs and especially rural areas Promote distributed leadership and learning opportunities to improve school climate Advocate for greater salary equity

19. easn.grads360.org Texas 19 Strategies for improving access in rural areas: Employ Opportunity Culture models to improve teacher tenure Expand teacher leadership opportunities Encourage training of and support for mentors of novice teachers

20. easn.grads360.org Strategies Identified Across All States 20

21. easn.grads360.org Problem of Practice Exercise 21

22. easn.grads360.org Problem of Practice Exercise* 22 1.Challenge (2 minutes): The presenter gives an overview of his or her challenges with increasing equitable access to excellent educators in rural settings and frames a focus question for the group to consider. 2.Clarifying Questions (1 minute): The group asks the presenter clarifying questions (e.g., questions with brief factual answers: Who? What? Where?). 3.Probing Questions (1 minute): The group asks the presenter probing questions to help him or her clarify or expand his or her thinking about the challenge presented. 4.Group Reflection (3 minutes): The group discusses what they heard and shares any insights or analyses of the challenge. The goal is to define the dilemma more thoroughly and objectively. The presenter listens silently and takes notes. 5.Presenter Reflection (1 minute): The presenter reflects on the group’s discussion about what she or he is now thinking and any insights gained about his or her challenge. *Modified from The Consultancy Protocol (National School Reform Faculty)

23. easn.grads360.org Group Discussion 23 Based on our conversation today: How can you collaborate to work together to achieve your equity-related goals? What additional supports/resources will you need moving forward?

24. easn.grads360.org Contact Information 24 Please visit the EASN website or email the EASN to join an EASN Community of Practice or Work Group, find relevant resources, or request targeted support. https://easn.grads360.org/ easn@aemcorp.com Facilitator:  Bill Horwath, bhorwath@education-first.combhorwath@education-first.com Thank you!