Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools enters Q Comp program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 28, 2006
Contact: Joe McQuillen, Office: (651) 582-8756, Cell: (612) 845-0083
MINNESOTA TRANSITIONS CHARTER SCHOOLS ENTERS Q COMP PROGRAM
~ Becomes the 6th charter school in the state to undertake professional development and achievement-based pay plan for teachers ~
Minneapolis – Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren announced today that Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools will implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. Transitions will be the 6th charter school in the state to opt into Q Comp, and will receive $277,420 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year for implementation efforts.
“Q Comp rewards teachers based on performance while providing for additional training and career options,” said Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren. “Those options will ultimately help our students learn better and succeed in 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 up to an additional $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. At Transitions Charter Schools, administration and teacher representatives have agreed to the following:
Career advancement opportunities for teachers: The career ladder includes three positions with various duties and compensations. These positions are:
• Lead Teacher- Evaluates teachers relating to retention and compensation, tests and demonstrates best practice instructional strategies, provides teachers with professional development strategies, works with staff to improve student skills/meet the Q Comp goals, administers one formal evaluation of all classroom teachers, assures strategies are being used effectively in classrooms, assists with monitoring materials and reviewing curriculum maps, assists in analyzing test results, provides small group staff development opportunities. A $3,000 salary augmentation (which includes a five day extended contract) and 50% release from their teaching assignment each day will be given as compensation.
• Mentor- Provides feedback and best practices to the mentee, works with new staff and staff who are on an improvement plan to meet the Q Comp goal, acts as a coach, team teaches with assigned teacher one hour each day to model best practices in the classroom, meets with assigned teacher one hour each week to collaborate, observes the assigned teacher and provides feedback, assists the assigned teacher with data analysis, serves as a member of the new teacher induction program, reviews and revises curriculum maps with the assigned teacher. A $2,000 salary augmentation, a two day extended contract and 30% release from their teaching assignment each day will be given as compensation.
• Assessment Coach- Provides professional development, coordinates assessment procedures for NWEA and MCA testing, communicates testing results with staff, collaborates with the lead teacher, administrators and curriculum director to discuss needs and strengths, assists with writing SMART goals, communicates test specifications with staff, trains staff to collect test data and analyze the results using the value added model. A $1,500 salary augmentation and 30% release from their teaching assignment each day will be given as compensation.
Job-embedded professional development: The entire district has set a goal to increase the individualized Rasch unit (RIT) score of students by five percent in the subtest of main idea on the Northwest Evaluation Association-Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA-MAP) test. In alignment with this goal each of Transition Charter’s six sites has set a goal and measurable objective, based on student data.
Performance pay: Teacher compensation will be based on the following factors:
1. Up to $700 based on composite evaluation scores after multiple evaluations in each domain
2. $300 for successful completion of the individual professional plan with a composite score of three or higher on administrator evaluations of the plan
3. $300 tied to student growth as measured through the individual professional plan
4. $500 tied to student achievement as measured by the MAP test of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch from individual classrooms
5. $700 for whole school gains of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch based on the goals set in component two.
Objective and comprehensive teacher evaluation: Each teacher will be evaluated three times per year by evaluators trained on the Danielson Model for evaluating teachers. Teachers will be paired to observe each other twice a year and to provide feedback. The building director will complete one formal observation and several walk-through observations/evaluations for every teacher. The curriculum director will also be responsible for several walk-through observations/evaluations, in addition to one formal evaluation for all staff members. The lead teacher will complete one formal evaluation for each teacher and conduct feedback meetings at least twice a year.
Alternative professional pay schedule: Teachers’ salaries only increase based on the performance pay outlined in component three and on the salary augmentations outlined in component one.
“We are excited to be a part of this innovative program,” said Minnesota Transitions Superintendent Tony Scallon. “It will allow our staff the opportunity to grow professionally while helping our students achieve their academic goals.”
Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools has seven sites for students in grades two through twelve. Transitions’ 65 teachers instruct 1,300 students enrolled in nine programs.
Minnesota Transitions is the sixth charter school to be approved for the Q Comp program behind Northfield School of Art and Technology (ARTech), Beacon Academy, Duluth Public Schools Academy, Sojourner Truth Academy and Heart of the Earth Charter School.
Also, 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, Le Center, St. Louis Park, Osseo, Lac Qui Parle, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Clearbrook-Gonvick, Proctor, Burnsville and St. Anthony-New Brighton 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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