NCAE SBE Review: Instructional Policy Updates O C T O B E R
Congratulations to Guilford County School System for receiving the 2015 North Carolina Schools of Character State Award The following Guilford Schools were recognized for the Character Award: Brooks Global Studies Elementary, James Joyner Elementary, and The Early/Middle College at Bennett.
The State Board of Education conducted strategic planning. Revised aspects and updates of the plan can be found here: http:// stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/ strategic-plan
Read to Achieve (R2A) news: Seventy-six percent of the 3rd graders met reading proficiency through one of the following options: • passing the Beginning-ofGrade 3 English Language Arts/Reading assessment; • passing the End-of-Grade 3 English Language Arts/ Reading assessment; • passing the End-of-Grade 3 English Language Arts/ Reading assessment retest; • passing the Read to Achieve Alternative Test; • passing an alternative assessment for reading; or • successfully completing the reading portfolio.
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STAR3 Teacher Incentive Grant News Panelists of administrators and teachers from Winston-Salem and Mt. Airy shared key learnings, best practices and how a performance-based compensation system was implemented using a TIF3 grant from the U.S .Department of Education. The term of the grant was five years and ends this year. The information shared was based on 16 schools that were part of the grant process, either as an incentive school or a controlled school. Embedded professional development and universal planning periods had a positive impact on teacher professional growth and empowerment. Even though not all teachers were in favor of using a Universal Lesson Planning process, changing how lesson plans were created and addressing components of RtI and MTSS (Multiple Tiered System of Support) created more engaging lessons, and a 10 percent increase in student success. The School Improvement Plan was considered the “hub” or blue print of action for the school. SIPs were created focusing on quality of instruction, student growth, coordinated planning time and PLC meetings. Teachers shared the SIP empowered teacher leaders. RtI or MTSS was implemented within a multi-domain for success beyond a focus of just exceptional children needs. All teachers received targeted professional development to assist ALL students with reading/literacy skills. All teachers worked on CORE instruction, targeted intervention & progress monitoring. These tactics and strategies reduced by an average 50% of students being identified to receive EC services. Focus on literacy impacted all subject areas. Teaching students how to create reading mastery goals and sharing expectations with parent/guardians impacted student success. Providing literacy PD for all staff and having all staff to work on literacy skills during a specific time each day created higher reading proficiency. One strategy was using “push-ins” with specialty teachers working with small groups. “Teachers who believe they make a difference in the school community, will remain in that school community” was a theme in all presentations. Extra pay or bonus pay did motivate many teachers to change how they facilitate learning or to challenge themselves to try different strategies. Teachers noted the bonuses brought respect to their hard work and dedication. Schools having flexible groups of students (students being able to change groups once skills are mastered) instead of fixed grouping all year. High expectations matter! Performance-based compensation system under the STAR3 TIF grant for incentive schools was disbursed based on feedback from the local NCAE as well as Local School Board, and Administrative members along with the School Improvement Team. The PBCS plans were created to allow all staff in the incentive schools to be eligible to earn a bonus if students had success. Bonuses could be earned based on individual work, grade level work and whole school work. Total bonus topped out at $8,500. Teachers who were rated less than proficient received 20 percent less than those rated proficient or higher. Controlled schools received a 1percent bonus salary boost.
NCAE SBE Review October 2015