1. 2008–2009 ASPIRE Verification and Linkage Process An Introduction for Campus-Based Staff Members

2. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. All staff members who are assigned to a campus during the 2008–2009 school year will need to verify their tentative eligibility and award categorization for the 2008–2009 ASPIRE Award Program. All award information is tentative as the year has not yet been completed. Additionally, some award categories cannot be completely determined until after the linkage process. Who Should Complete Linkage and Verification?

3. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Eligibility determines that you have met all of the rules of the program. Note: If you choose not to receive an award, you must opt-out. All employees were opted-in for 2008–2009 regardless of previous years selection. Categorization (A-K) tells us how to apply the award model to your role. Categorization is subject to majority of day and the majority of the year. Category A/B require linkage. No other category requires linkage. Attendance bonus as of April 15 assuming no more hours missed. Verifying Tentative Award Eligibility & Categorization

4. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Review the ASPIRE Award Program Rules and Eligibility document and complete the online course AS0001 in ASPIRELearn. Address any concerns about your award eligibility and categorization with your principal. When you have completed your review and discussed all problems with your principal, click the checkbox next stating your verification of the data. Reporting A Concern

5. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. A Sample Linkage & Tentative Award Screen

6. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Linkage is done to show how teachers impact students academic progress. Its a simple 3-step process: Setting up a roster of students taught throughout the year Indicating students mobility in and out of the classroom Reporting the percentage of time a teacher has with a given student for a given subject What is Linkage?

7. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Linkage is a process done with teachers to attribute instructional influence on student academic progress and to receive teacher value-added reports. The Importance of Linkage

8. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Core teachers in grades 3–8 will perform linkage resulting in teacher value-added reports and for any ASPIRE Awards for which they may be eligible. Reading, language, math, science, and social studies To ensure the reports accuracy, these teachers must verify student mobility and the amount of instructional time they provided students in their classes throughout the year. Who Should Complete Linkage?

9. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Linkage Process – Teachers Role Verify tentative eligibility and award categorization for the 2008–2009 ASPIRE Award Program Core 3–8 teachers only Review and modify course rosters Set student start and end dates Set percentage of instruction Submit assignments for review and approval

10. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Accessing Linkage 1. Log in to My ASPIRE at http://www.houstonisd.org/aspire 2. Choose My Linkage from the list of links. 3. Core 3–8 teachers will see assignments (courses) requiring linkage listed. 4. Click Begin to start linkage or Review is you have already submitted linkage.

11. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Review and Modify Course Rosters Course rosters must be reviewed and accurately completed.

12. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Modifying Your Course Roster Tools are provided that allow you to correct your student list, set mobility and percent of instruction. Add missing students Remove students Copy Students Self-contained may want to correct one roster and copy students to all others.

13. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Set Student Start and End Dates Make adjustments to the starting and ending months to indicate each students time spent in your classroom. If a student was in your class, moved to another, and returned, use the selectors to represent the total number of months he/she was a student in your class. To save time, you can set the same value for all students.

14. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Set Percentage of Instruction In most cases, teachers will set all students at 100%. Team teaching situations might share student instruction at 50% each. A special education teacher may claim a student for as little as 20%. See the Special Cases document for more information.

15. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Submit Assignments for Review and Approval Save your changes by clicking Submit at the bottom of the page. Changes to course rosters must be reviewed and submitted for principal approval. Updates to course rosters can be made until your principal has reviewed and approved your assignments. Each assignment must be reviewed and submitted for approval.

16. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Linkage & Verification Support Principal/Campus Support Team E-mail links and names will be shown on your linkage screens to contact campus support. Regional ASPIRE Core Team Member Online Support Ticket Submit a ticket about how to complete linkage. Questions about the award program should be addressed to your principal.

17. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. Important Dates to Remember May 5 – May 18 Principal Set-Up Period May 18 – 29 Linkage Period for Campus- Based Staff Members June 10Principal Approval Deadline

18. Copyright ©2009. Battelle for Kids. www.houstonisd.org/ASPIRE