Iowa’s Teacher Quality Program

Intent of the General Assembly To create a student achievement and teacher quality program that acknowledges that outstanding teachers are a key component in student success. Senate File 476

The program's goals are to: Enhance student achievement and to redesign compensation strategies and teachers' professional development. Senate File 476

These compensation strategies are designed to: attract and retain high performing teachers, reward teachers for improving their skills and knowledge in a manner that translates into better student learning, and reward the staff of school attendance centers for improvement in student achievement. Senate File 476

Four Major Elements 1.Mentoring and induction programs that provide support for beginning teachers. 2.Career paths with compensation levels that strengthen Iowa's ability to recruit and retain teachers. Senate File 476

3.Professional development designed to directly support best teaching practice. 4.Team-based variable pay that provides additional compensation when student performance improves. Senate File 476 Four Major Elements (continued)

Student Achievement and Teacher Quality Program Senate file 476

Eight Iowa Teaching Standards 1.Demonstrates ability to enhance academic performance and support for implementation of the school districts student achievement goals. 2.Demonstrates competence in content knowledge appropriate to the teaching position. 3.Demonstrates competence in planning and preparing for instruction. Senate File 476

4.Uses strategies to deliver instruction that meets the multiple learning needs of students. 5.Uses a variety of methods to monitor student learning. 6.Demonstrates competence in classroom management. 7.Engages in professional growth. 8.Fulfills professional responsibilities established by the school district. Senate File 476 Eight Iowa Teaching Standards (continued)

Teaching Standards Standards and criteria serve as a foundation for all phases of the legislation –Induction and Mentoring Programs –Evaluator Approval Training and Model –Career Advancement –Professional Development Networks & Support –Individual and District Career Development Plans

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Mentoring and Induction Programs –Provided for all first & second year beginning teachers in all public school districts ($1300 per teacher provided by state) –Districts filed induction program with state department for approval before implementation –Successful completion occurs with a comprehensive evaluation that provides a recommendation to the Board of Educational Examiners for a standard license

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Induction program goals: –To improve teaching performance –To increase retention of promising teachers –To promote the personal and professional well-being –To transmit the system culture

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Induction Program - mentors can be an individual employed as a classroom teacher or a retired teacher –holds a valid license –4 years of successful teaching experience –commitment to improving teaching and learning –$500 stipend per semester required by legislation

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Providing ongoing feedback for performance –Comprehensive evaluation for beginning teachers required at the end of year two for beginning teachers Determine the future license of a beginning teacher Districts may recommend one more year of induction to assist teacher in meeting Iowa teaching standards Performance reviews at least once every three years for all other teachers

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Providing well trained and certified evaluators –The Evaluator Approval program develops skills in the following areas: Understanding of Teaching Standards/Criteria Data Collection Skills Feedback Techniques Leadership

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Evaluator Approval Program –60 trainers in states –1500 administrators in regional cohorts/10 days of training/certification of skills –$1,000 award for completion of training for administrators

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Quality evaluation processes and tools at local levels –Local districts must have local processes developed and implemented by July Must provide Iowa Teaching Standards and Criteria for all teachers Comprehensive Teacher Evaluation Model developed by department for use as reference or model at local level

Attract and retain high performing teachers by... Beginning teachers Comprehensive evaluation at end of second year conducted by certified evaluator Career teachers (3 years +) Performance reviews once every three years –Individual career development plans with annual review of supervisor –Encouraged to use peer review –Must contain documentation from other supervisors, parents, and students Intensive assistance to include organizational support and technical assistance to teachers for remediation

Reward teachers for improving their skills and knowledge in a manner that translates into better student learning Career Paths High quality professional development support for teachers

Career Path Beginning - implemented with induction program, comprehensive evaluations to determine licensure, minimum salary Career I - implemented with minimum salary (‘01) - performance reviews, annual goals for career development plans, opportunities for quality professional development support to improve knowledge and skills by (‘04).

Career Path Career II - performance review, planned movement from Career I to II - minimum salary - implementation delayed due to budget restraints Advanced - performance review, planned movement from Career II - minimum salary - implementation delayed due to budget restraints

Career Path Pilot ‘02 legislature requested recommendations for pilots for school districts to implement Career II and advanced paths Stakeholder group preparing recommendations by December 15 Expect pilots in school year

Professional Development Professional Development Model Professional Development State Networks District Career Development Plans Individual Career Development Plans Approval of professional development providers Evaluation systems linked to professional development

Iowa Professional Development Model Statewide stakeholder group External experts Comprehensive model –Student achievement data analysis –Goal establishment –Research-based strategies –Implementation that supports theory, demonstration, practice, feedback, & study of implementation data –Formative & summative data

Professional Development State Networks... State department organizing statewide networks of individuals for reading, mathematics, and science –Study research –Provide information on best practice –Assist school districts in determining appropriate strategies/programs to meet student achievement needs

Local Districts Career Development Plan align with the district Comprehensive School Improvement Plan action plan strategies to support student learning goals provide all teachers access to career development indicate the LEA’s approved career development provider(s)

Individual Teacher Career Development Plans based on student achievement goals of the building & district enhance specific skills identified through: –Iowa Teaching Standards and Criteria –Teacher needs –The evaluation process

PD Provider Standards Provider will demonstrate that the career development program: –aligns with the Iowa Teaching Standards –focuses on research-based instructional strategies aligned with the district's student achievement needs and the long-range and annual improvement goals –Provides support to teachers

Provider Requirements... –delivers professional development that is targeted at instructional improvement and designed with the following components:  student achievement data and analysis,  theory,  classroom demonstration and practice,  observation and reflection, and  peer coaching.

Provider Requirements... –includes an evaluation component that documents the improvement in instructional practice and the effect on student learning. –supports the career development needs of individual teachers. –integrates the instructional application of technology.

Iowa Teaching Standard Engages in professional growth. Criteria: –Demonstrates habits and skills of continuous inquiry and learning. –Works collaboratively to improve professional practice and student learning.

Iowa Teaching Standard: Engages in professional growth... Applies research, knowledge, and skills from professional development opportunities to improve practice. Establishes and implements professional development plans based upon the teacher needs aligned to the Iowa Teaching Standards and district/building student achievement goals.

Proximal -80% –instruction and curriculum How I teach. What I teach. Models with a proven track record. –teachers armed with a few powerful strategies Distal - 20% –process - conflict resolution, meeting facilitation skills –materials - text book adoption –administrative -site based management, strategic planning, scheduling classes

Focal point of professional development planning and implementation is at the building level.

Reward the staff of school attendance centers for improvement in student achievement. Team-based Variable Pay –Pilot basis last school year –18 schools from 10 districts –$1 million dollars established for payment to school site if student achievement goals are attained

Team-based Variable Pay School teams establish goals with local school board approval Schools establish valid and reliable assessment measures School teams decide who will receive building awards Study is inconclusive Recommending another two year pilot

Teacher Quality = Student Achievement