ALBANY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD AGENDA BACKUP Regular Meeting of June 28th, 2016 ITEM:

EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS GRANT

PREPARED BY:

PETER I. PARENTI, DIRECTOR CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, & ASSESSMENT ALLAN GARDE CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICIAL

TYPE OF ITEM: REVIEW AND ACTION __________________________________________________________________________________ PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Board of Trustees to review and discuss the proposed plan to expend funds related to the Educator Effectiveness Grant. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: On May 10th, 2016, the AUSD School Board reviewed and discussed this item. In January 2015, the CA State Governor proposed a one-time amount of mandated cost reimbursement with the intent to support CA State Standards implementation. In May 2015, the Governor’s revision proposed an increase to that amount and held steady with the intent to support CA State Standards Implementation. Then, in June 2015 a smaller amount was ultimately approved and a surprising Educator Effectiveness Grant was allocated. The AUSD Budget for 2015-16 was based on the May 2015 revisions. Thankfully, that budged already included several planned expenditures related to educator effectiveness. Namely, the Local Control Accountability Plan includes the provision of teacher induction programs for new teachers as well as professional development for all teachers related to the implementation of CA State Standards. DETAILS One component of the CA State budget includes funding to provide support for teachers, especially during their first few years on the job. The funding comes in the form of a one-time allocation known as the Educator Effectiveness Grant. (http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/educatoreffectiveness.asp) As a condition of receiving these funds, a school district is required to: 1. Develop and adopt a plan delineating how the Educator Effectiveness funds will be spent. The plan must be explained in a public meeting of the governing board of the school district before its adoption in a subsequent public meeting. 2. On or before July 1, 2018, report detailed expenditure information to the CA Department of Education (CDE), including, but not limited to, specific purchases made and the number of teachers, administrators, or paraprofessional educators that received professional development. Educator Effectiveness funds may be used to support the professional development of certificated teachers, administrators, and paraprofessional educators. Funds can be expended for any of the following purposes: 1. Beginning teacher and administrator support and mentoring, including, but not limited to, programs that support new teacher and administrator ability to teach or lead effectively and to meet induction requirements adopted by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and pursuant to Section 44259 of the Education Code. 2. Professional development, coaching, and support services for teachers who have been identified as needing improvement or additional support by local educational agencies.

3. Professional development for teachers and administrators that is aligned to the state content standards adopted pursuant to Sections 51226, 60605, 60605.1, 60605.2, 60605.3, 60605.08, 60605.11, 60605.85, as that section read on June 30, 2014, and 60811.3, as that section read on June 30, 2013, of the Education Code. 4. To promote educator quality and effectiveness, including, but not limited to, training on mentoring and coaching certificated staff and training certificated staff to support effective teaching and learning. AUSD District Staff are recommending that the Educator Effectiveness Grant funds be expended on the following two programs: Teacher Induction Programs: Formerly known as Beginning Teacher Support and Induction, these programs provide mentoring and other activities that are required for new teachers to clear their credentials. Curriculum Implementation Activities: Teachers of English, Math, Science, and History/Social Studies are in various phases of transition between old and new standards. Teachers need professional development and extended time for collaboration related to curriculum development and assessment practices. More specifics related to these programs and their related expenses will be presented in the DRAFT Local Control Accountability Plan coming to the Albany School Board for a first review on June 14th, 2016. KEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Q. Is there a template available that school districts are required to use to develop and adopt the plan? A. No. However, the state already mandates that a complicated and extensive template be used to develop and adopt the Local Control Accountability Plan. Q. Does the plan have to be submitted to the CDE for approval? A. No. However an expense report will be due to the CDE on or before July 1st, 2018. Q. Are the proposed expenditures for the Educator Effectiveness Grant in alignment with stakeholder input and the Local Control Accountability Plan? A. Yes, stakeholder engagement from the 2015-16 LCAP development process included feedback on how to meet CA State Priority #1 ‘Appropriately Credentialed Teachers’ and CA State Priority #2 ‘Implementation of State Standards.’ In sum, the District already has existing plans in place to provide new teachers with mentoring support and all teachers with professional development related to implementing the new CA State Standards. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: The Educator Effectiveness funds were calculated based on an equal amount per certificated FTE as reported in CALPADS during the 2014-15 fiscal year. For Albany USD, this translates to a total one-time allocation of $346,878.00 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED: Objective #1: Assess and Increase Academic Success. Goal: We will provide a comprehensive educational experience with expanded opportunities for engagement, assessment, and academic growth so that all students will achieve their fullest potential.

Objective #2: Support the Whole Child. Goal: We will foster the social and emotional growth of all students, implement an array of strategies to increase student engagement, identify individual socioemotional and behavioral needs, and apply collaborative appropriate interventions.

Objective #3: Communicate and Lead Together. Goal: All stakeholders will collaborate and communicate about decisions that guide the sites and district.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve the proposed plan for Albany USD to expend funds related to the Teacher Effectiveness Grant.