Proctor school district to implement Q Comp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 22, 2006
Contact: Joe McQuillen, Office: (651) 582-8756, Cell: (612) 845-0083
PROCTOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO UTILIZE Q COMP PROGRAM
~ Becomes 23rd district in the state to undertake professional development and achievement-based pay plan for teachers ~
Proctor – Education Commissioner Alice Seagren today announced that the Proctor Public School District will implement Governor Pawlenty’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. Proctor will be the 23rd district in the state to opt into Q Comp, and will receive $460,460 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year for implementation efforts.
“By opting into the Q Comp program, the Proctor School District has made a commitment to long-term success,” said Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren. “The Q Comp program rewards teachers based on performance, as well as provides for additional training and career options that will help increase student achievement as we move into the 21st century.”
Last year, Governor Pawlenty proposed and the state legislature approved Minnesota’s Q Comp program. Q Comp provides up to $86 million for districts that join the program.
Q Comp is designed to advance the teaching profession by providing structured professional development and evaluation, as well as an alternative pay schedule that compensates teachers based on performance, not just seniority. The program brings together career advancement, professional development and compensation linked to academic achievement. It includes a locally agreed-upon peer evaluation process for every teacher that is based on skills, responsibilities and student academic growth. This plan is voluntary and will add another $260 per student in participating districts.
The Q Comp program gives participating school districts the flexibility to meet local needs within a comprehensive model of improved teaching and learning. In Proctor, the district administration and teachers representatives have agreed to the following:
Career advancement opportunities for teachers: The career ladder will include six positions with various duties and compensations. These positions are:
• Mentor Teacher- Provides help and support to mentees, and will be compensated with a stipend of $500 and 2 days release time per year.
• Mentee- Probationary teachers new to the district, will be assigned a mentor according to building or curricular area, and will be given a $200 stipend for attending 2 days of training and 2 days release time per year.
• Instructional Leader- Links teachers with resources, leads research and coordinates implementation of best practice strategies, collects and compiles curricular scope and sequence progress within content areas. Instructional leaders will be given a stipend of $1,000 and a total of 4 days release time per year.
• Professional Learning Community (PLC) Lead Teacher- Coordinates 4 PLC teams of 5 members each, organizes, coordinates and submits a teacher’s observation schedule to the coordinator and evaluates a 20 member cohort twice annually including pre-conferences and reflective follow-ups. PLC Lead Teachers will be given a stipend of $2,000 and a total of 20 days release time per year.
• Coordinator- Facilitates district-wide communication with administration, instructional leaders, PLC team leaders and teachers as well as communication with the Minnesota Department of Education regarding Q Comp status and needs. Coordinators will be given a stipend of $6,000 annually and this position will be released from their teaching position full-time.
• Council- Hires coordinator, reviews PLC goals, selects PLC leaders with the assistance of the coordinator, arranges mentor/mentee relationships. Council will be given $2,250 annually.
Job-embedded professional development: Each school site has set a student achievement goal and measurable objective aligned with the district’s educational improvement plan and disaggregated student data focused on improved student achievement in literacy as measured by the MCA assessment.
Performance pay: Teacher compensation will be based on the following factors:
1. $2,000 is available if a teacher completes 2 of the three formal observations per year focused on goal achievement and is a member of a PLC
2. $200 is available to teachers who score basic moving toward proficient or higher on the administrative evaluations
3. $200 is available for teachers upon completion of an impact on student achievement goal
4. $200 is available if the grade level meets the student achievement goals set in component 2
Objective and comprehensive teacher evaluation: Each professional educator (tenured teacher) will be evaluated once per year by the administration and formally observed twice per year by the PLC lead teacher using the research-based and comprehensive Charlotte Danielson framework for effective teaching.
Alternative professional pay schedule: Discussion about integrating steps and lanes with performance measures is taking place. Suggestions include: adding the achievement of a proficient evaluation result to the “lanes” achievable, thus accelerating the opportunity for pay increases. In addition, completion of terms as an instructional leader, PLC lead teacher, or coordinator could also qualify as professional development training that could equal that of particular lanes. The plan allocates 65% of funds available for PLC membership which includes classroom observations, with an additional amount of $200 for formal administrative evaluations, another $200 for completion of an impact on student achievement goal and a final $200 for meeting the site learning gains.
“A great deal of time, energy and collaboration made for a Q Comp proposal that will aid in staff improvement, as well as help our students to learn more effectively," said Proctor Superintendent Diane Rauschenfels. “I am extremely proud of our staff and their ability to work together to accomplish this goal."
Proctor Public School District has 1,709 students, four buildings and approximately 230 staff members.
Minneapolis, Hopkins, St. Francis, Mounds View, St. Cloud, Alexandria, Fridley, La Crescent-Hokah and Marshall started implementing the Q Comp program during the 2005-06 school year. Grand Meadow, Albert Lea, Alden-Conger, Brainerd, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, Red Rock Central, International Falls, St. Louis Park, Osseo, Lac Qui Parle, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Clearbrook-Gonvick and Proctor school districts will begin implementing during the 2006-07 school year. Approximately 134 school districts have indicated to the Department of Education they are planning to submit an application for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.
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