ChalkboardProjectlogo
Greetings!

Happy New Year! We are hopeful that this year will prove to be an important one for education in Oregon. There are innovative projects taking place across the state and a lot of potential for empowering educators and raising student achievement. There are also important conversations happening about teacher effectiveness and what effective teaching looks like in the classroom. Take a look at the list of characteristics from the Superintendent of Public Instruction's Youth Advisory Team.

Calling All Partners ChalkboardProjectlogo

Chalkboard, with the support of Stand for Children, will request the introduction of Senate Bill 1048 in the short February legislative session in order to begin a conversation about reforms that will make Oregon more competitive for federal dollars and demonstrate the state's dedication to supporting our teachers and raising student achievement. We invite everyone to join the conversation in preparation to take action in the 2011 legislative session.

Senate Bill 1048, co-sponsored by Senate Education Chair Mark Hass (D-Beaverton) and Vice-Chair Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg), is called the Oregon Teacher Effectiveness and Career Enhancement Initiative (OTECEI).  The bill creates a framework for any Oregon district to apply for a grant to:
    � Strengthen student learning and achievement
    � Facilitate the recruitment and retention of effective teachers
    � Support and reward teachers who take on new roles and
      responsibilities
School district participation in such a grant application would be voluntary.  To apply for the effective teaching incentive grants, school districts would need to demonstrate a commitment to implement the following:
�      Expanded career paths
�      Effective performance evaluation systems
�      Relevant professional development
�      New compensation models

Read a short explanation of the bill.
 
Read the full legislation: http://www.leg.state.or.us./bills_laws/concepts/sen/SB1048.pdf

We are not pushing for adoption of this legislation in 2010; instead we see it as a starting point. Over the next year we hope to engage in a thoughtful conversation about legislation to support effective teachers with the hope of a collaborative effort to bring about new opportunities in 2011.

Join the conversation on the Mentoring Educators bulletin board
Defining Greatness ChalkboardProjectlogo

When we visited the Superintendent of Public Instruction's Youth Advisory Team last month we spent a long time talking with the group about what good teaching looks like. Their list included:
�      Builds variety into the routine
�      Checks for understanding-knows if you are learning
�      Builds community in the classroom
�      Structures hands-on, experiential, learn-by-doing experiences
�      Engages in the classroom-"never at their desk"
 
A recent report by the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality entitled, "America's Opportunity: Teacher Effectiveness and Equity in K-12 Classrooms," provides a five-point definition of effective teaching from Goe, Bell and Little (2008). The experts cite characteristics of an effective teacher that are very similar to those the YAT students noted, including having high expectations, using diverse resources, monitoring student progress and encouraging cooperative behavior.
 
How do you know effective teaching when you see it? Do you agree with the YAT students and Goe, Bell and Little? Are there some characteristics that are more important than others? Join the conversation here.
 
Read the full list of characteristics from the YAT students.
 
And They're Off...
Federal Recovery
On Tuesday Oregon submitted it's Race to the Top application, requesting $200 million dollars from the federal government to implement innovative practices to raise student achievement in the state.

There is a lot of support for the application and a lot of excitement about the opportunity for Oregon's schools. The Oregon Education Association included a letter of support with the application in which they state, "Oregon's application is a blueprint for a sustainable support system that will ensure that educators have the tools necessary to help every student achieve success." Read OEA's letter of support.


Chalkboard also submitted a letter of support which specifically applauds the application's sincere focus on supporting great teachers and leaders. Read the letter.


Our Voices, Our Schools
ChalkboardProjectlogo Connie Hansen is the current chair of the Sherwood School Board. She is a member of Sherwood's CLASS design team and has been very involved in the implementation of the initiative.

It is National School Board Appreciation Month! What do you enjoy most  about being a school board member?

The opportunity to be engaged in the meaningful work of educating our children is the greatest reward for me as a School Board Member.  I am intrigued by the dynamics of teaching and learning - how children learn and what are the most effective methods to facilitate that learning process.   

As a board member, how would you define your role in raising student  achievement in your district?

To use student achievement as the lens through which we evaluate
everything. Whether we are establishing the budget, or evaluating the curriculum, or assessing facility needs, the impact on student achievement is at the core of our decision-making.  We are accountable to our community for student achievement in our district.

Sherwood was one of the first three districts involved in the CLASS Project. How would you describe the impact the initiative has had on your district?

The CLASS project provided the resources and the framework for the
innovation and implementation of: the delivery of professional development for both our teaching staff and our classified staff; a revised compensation model; and a comprehensive evaluation process.  The focus on effective teaching and student achievement has informed our decision-making.  We are tracking the impact of the initiatives on our student's progress and even at this early stage we are beginning to see positive results.

Learn more about the CLASS Project in Sherwood on their website.





January 2010
In This Issue
Callin All Partners
Defining Greatness
And They're Off...
Our Voices, Our Schools
Make Sure Your Students Count
Deciphering Ed Speak
CLASS Coaches Needed
What's Next for Chalkboard
Make Sure Your Students Count!

The 2010 Census is coming and it is essential for schools and other service organizations to make sure their communities are accurately counted. The census only takes place every ten years and it helps determine federal funding and political representation.
 
Schools can help promote the census in their communities by providing information about the process. The Census Bureau has even put together lesson plans and classroom materials that can be downloaded at: www.census.gov/schools

Deciphering Ed Speak
ACSD has put together a handy on-line dictionary that defines educational terms in everyday language. Check out the Lexicon of Learning.

CLASS Coaches Needed

We are still accepting applications for two CLASS coach positions. CLASS coaches help guide CLASS development and implementation in the twelve participating districts. Read the job description:
CLASS Coach Job Description
 
What's Next for Chalkboard...

Feb 4
Central Oregon CLASS Meeting

Feb 8
Oregon City / Vernonia CLASS Meeting


Join Our Mailing List
Advocacy  CBLAdvocacy

Visit
www.chalkboardproject.org
for information on all of our initiatives

You can also view
Chalkboard's Teachers' Lounge and News Page
for Chalkboard Project legislative updates and news coverage.