STRIDE Academy enters Q Comp program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 29, 2006
Contact: Joe McQuillen, Office: (651) 582-8756, Cell: (612) 845-0083
STRIDE ACADEMY ENTERS Q COMP PROGRAM
~ Becomes the 7th charter school in the state to undertake professional development and achievement-based pay plan for teachers ~
Saint Cloud – Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren announced today that STRIDE Academy Charter School will implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. STRIDE will be the 7th charter school in the state to opt into Q Comp, and will receive $43,160 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year for implementation efforts.
“The teachers and administrators should be commended for all the work they have put into implementing this program,” said Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren. “Q Comp will have a positive effect throughout STRIDE Academy.”
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 STRIDE Academy, administration and teacher representatives have agreed to the following:
Career advancement opportunities for teachers: The career ladder includes two positions with various duties and compensations. These positions are:
• Lead Teacher- Serves on the teacher development team, field tests research-based instructional strategies and curriculum based on student needs and assists administration in evaluating teacher performance using Charlotte Danielson’s Frameworks of Teaching. A $1,200 salary augmentation and three days of professional development will be given as compensation.
• Instructional and Curriculum Team (ICT) (Coaches)- Observes and advises teachers on instructional skills and identifies needs specific to improving instruction, provides feedback based upon direct instruction and meets with each grade level team biweekly, assists administration in the selection, development, maintenance and evaluation of specific curricular areas, assists in curriculum mapping, student learning and test analysis, supports and encourages their peers and collaborates with administrators and lead teachers to evaluate teacher performance and student learning. A $1,000 salary augmentation and two professional development days will be given as compensation.
Job-embedded professional development: The school has determined the goal of improving student achievement in language usage skills (grammar usage and composition structure/process) on the Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) assessment and six traits writing portfolios as the Q Comp focus. Particular emphasis will be placed on female sixth grade students. This goal measured at each grade level using the NWEA MAP assessment in the spring of 2007 so that:
• 60% of second graders will perform at or above grade level
• 57% of third graders will perform at or above grade
• 60% of fourth graders will perform at or above grade level
• 67% of fifth graders will perform at or above grade level
• 65% of sixth graders will perform at or above grade level
• 50% of the female sixth graders will perform at or above grade level
Performance pay: Teacher compensation will be based on the following factors:
1. Teachers who perform below the proficient level on the evaluations will not be eligible for an increase on the salary schedule
2. Teachers are eligible for the following performance pay in addition to the salary increase based on evaluations:
a. $1,250 for meeting the school wide goal of having 60% of all students at or above grade level on the NWEA by June 2007
i. If 57% achieve the goal, teachers will receive $1,000
ii. If 54% achieve the goal, teachers will receive $750
b. $1,250 for participation in the PLC instructional strategies models
i. Paid in percentages of achievement according to the STRIDE Academy PLC rubric
c. $1,250 for participation in the PLC individual goal setting
i. Paid in percentages of achievement according to the STRIDE Academy student writing portfolio goal rubric
d. $1,250 if 90% of all students have met the language arts NWEA student growth RIT point from fall to spring in 2006-2007
i. If only 80% achieve this goal teachers will receive $1,000
ii. If 70% achieve this goal teachers will receive $750
Objective and comprehensive teacher evaluation: Each teacher will be formally evaluated three times per year. Each evaluation will include a pre- and post-observation conference. Teachers will be evaluated by the evaluation team, which includes one instructional/curriculum coach, one lead teacher and one administrator. At least two members of the evaluation team will participate in each evaluation. This will increase inter-rater reliability. The evaluation team will work collectively with the teacher during the evaluation process.
Alternative professional pay schedule: Teachers will be eligible for movement on the salary schedule and performance pay as outlined in component three and all career ladder positions will be eligible for their salary augmentations in the following manner:
• Lead teachers will receive $1,200 per year if they facilitate 95% of all PLCs and keep minutes, participate in 18 observations and participate in 90% of all site-based team meetings.
• Instructional/curriculum teachers will receive $1,000 per year if they participate in 95% of all PLCs, assist the lead teacher in the facilitation of PLC meetings, participate in 18 observations and coordinate/facilitate the curriculum advisory committee.
“The STRIDE Academy family is excited to implement the Q Comp program,” said STRIDE Academy Director Dale Beutel. “By providing teachers with the tools and resources to be effective in the classroom, we ensure students will continue to strive academically and reach their maximum potential.”
STRIDE Academy is a K-6 charter school, with 28 faculty members, serving 236 students.
STRIDE Academy is the seventh 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, Heart of the Earth Charter School and Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools.
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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