FY RACE TO THE TOP

Purpose of the RT3 Grant The Race to The Top (RT3) grant is designed to encourage innovation and reform, achieve significant improvement in student outcomes, and implement ambitious plans in Four Core Education Reform Areas: Standards and Assessment: Adopt standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace, as well as to compete in the global economy Great Teachers and Leaders: Recruit, prepare, reward, and retain effective teachers and principals Data Systems: Build data systems that measure student achievement, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction Lowest Achieving Schools: Turn around our lowest- achieving schools

Utilization of RT3 Funding APS will receive $39,348,675 of the $400 million Georgia award over a 4 year (2011 – 15) time period State Board of Education has direct accountability for the grant Funds cannot be used to supplant state or local funds Funds can only be used to address the reform areas

Standards and Assessments District wide Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) Implementation Provide curriculum resources and instructional materials for teachers to support implementation of the Common Core standards Provide professional learning opportunities to deepen their understanding of Common Core Georgia Performance Implementation of online professional learning resources to support the instructional strategies

Great Teachers and Leaders Teacher evaluation, tenure designation, and professional development align with the district’s rigorous definition of teacher effectiveness Implementation of the Teacher Keys Effectiveness Systems (TKES) evaluation tool Implementation of the Leader Keys Effectiveness Systems (LKES) evaluation tool Development of a Performance Based Leadership Certification Program for aspiring school administrators Ongoing support for graduation coaches to aid in increasing the high school graduation rate and increase academic achievement of middle school students Use of principal mentors and a principal coach to support new principals Continued support of the Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) and Teach for America (TFA) teacher induction programs

Data Systems Install and deploy a comprehensive Instructional Management System that will administer formative assessments aligned to the CCGPS, deliver rapid results, and support teachers in the identification of student strengths and opportunities for growth; the system will also house lesson planning and curriculum Hire data analysts comprise the district’s Data Team to support schools in the effective interpretation of data found in the State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS), the Computer Adaptive Assessment system, the IMS and other data systems that support instructional decisions

Lowest Achieving Schools (LAS) The lowest achieving schools currently receiving support through the RT3 grant are Crim High School, Douglass High School, Therrell Law High School, Therrell Health and Sciences High School and Harper-Archer Middle School Provide additional graduation coaches, instructional coaches and support staff to lowest achieving schools Provide additional tutorial funding to lowest achieving schools Provide support to lowest achieving school principals through the use of a principal coach