Arlington Public Schools

1. Arlington Public Schools Teacher Excellence Initiative October 2008

2. Teacher Excellence Initiative • Revisit the Teacher Excellence Initiative Principles • Report on Progress • Next steps

3. What is the TEI? The quality of the teacher is the most important variable affecting student learning over which the schools can exercise influence…

4. Historical Context • 2001: School Board Adopts Principles for the Teacher Excellence Initiative (TEI) • 2001: Teacher Compensation Committee (TCC) Proposes The TEI Process • 2001: Blue Ribbon Panel Reviews TEI Initiative and Concludes Further Investigation Warranted for Differentiated Compensation • 2003 TEI Report

5. Adopted 2001The Arlington School Board Believes That: 1. Within the school setting, teacher excellence is the most important variable in student learning and achievement. 2. To attract, retain, and support teachers of excellence, a workplace must represent a competitive advantage over neighboring jurisdictions when considering a combination of the following factors… 3. Different levels of knowledge, skills, and performance should be recognized by differentiated compensation. How to fairly award such compensation in Arlington should be explored with teachers, parents, and the broader community. 4. Any plan to strengthen teacher excellence must be accompanied by evaluation procedures to show how well the proposal attracts, retains, and support teachers of excellence.

6. TEI Progress • Recommended Changes to the 2008 TEI • 2008 Status Report

7. The Arlington School Board Believes That: Overarching 1. Within the school setting, teacher excellence is the most important variable in student learning and achievement. 2. To attract, retain, and support teachers of excellence, a workplace must represent a competitive advantage over neighboring jurisdictions when considering a combination of the following factors… 3. Different levels of knowledge, skills, and performance should be recognized by differentiated compensation. How to fairly award such compensation in Arlington should be explored with teachers, parents, and the broader community. 4. Any plan to strengthen teacher excellence must be accompanied by evaluation procedures to show how well the proposal attracts, retains, and support teachers of excellence. Adopted 2001 1 2 3

8. TEI Principle 1: To attract, retain, and support teachers of excellence, a workplace must represent a competitive advantage over neighboring jurisdictions when considering a combination of the following factors…

9. TEI Principle 1 Progress: • An organizational climate in which teachers are respected and involved appropriately in decision-making; • Collaborative Problem Solving Team (CPST) • System-wide teacher leadership roles established and shared decision making that may vary by school • A school climate in which teachers know they have a positive impact on student learning and are supported in exercising that impact by their colleagues and their principal; • Collaboration mechanisms across all schools through staff meetings, team meetings, and other such structures for instructional decision-making • Intervention Assistance Teams (IAT) • Favorable class sizes (WABE); • Elementary- 19.2, middle- 19.4, high- 18.8 students per class

10. TEI Principle 1 Progress: • Sufficient planning time; • Opportunities for daily, extended planning time in secondary schools and in 9 of 22 elementary schools • Ample opportunities for professional growth and development; • Collaboration among schools and central office for supporting professional development to include those with a school-based focus such as book or PDP study groups • An evaluation system of teachers that is fair, effective, uses multiple measures, and recognizes different stages of professional growth; • Use of the Danielson Framework for Professional Teaching Practice as the basis for the teacher evaluation system • A teacher evaluation system that aligns with the professional growth of teachers over time (PDP, APP, CAP)

11. TEI Principle 1 Progress: • High quality teaching resources, including technology, and support to teachers for their effective use; • Highest per pupil disbursement for Instruction in Virginia (VEA, Virginia’s Educational Disparities FY 2006-07) • Structured and periodic computer replacement procedures • Classroom environments that are clean, safe and conducive to learning; • Capital Improvement Plan • Increased funds to address HVAC needs in all buildings • Competitive salary and benefits. • APS ranked first in salary and certain fringe benefits (VEA, FY 2007-08) • Highest salary for teachers with 10 years experience on BA scale (VEA, FY 2007-08)

12. TEI Principle 2: The Arlington School Board believes that different levels of knowledge, skills, and performance can be measured and should be recognized by differentiated compensation. • Establishment of the Career Advancement Program (CAP) and salary schedule

13. TEI Principle 3: Initiatives to strengthen teacher excellence must be accompanied by evaluations showing how they attract, retain, and support teachers of excellence • Evaluation of the Analysis of Professional Practice (APP) limited implementation FY08 • Started 2008-09 school year with no classroom teacher vacancies

14. TEI Next Steps • Promote productive and positive school climates • Organize central resources in support of school plans • Cultivate collaborative and productive relationships as accomplished through various initiatives • Develop third CAP portfolio • Evaluate efforts • Continue expansion of instructional resources • Create TEI brochure

15. Arlington Public Schools Teacher Excellence Initiative October 2008