Greetings!
This month's update covers an issue that is not only a hot
topic in Oregon, but on the national scene as well. Last week, 40 states, plus
the District of Columbia, submitted applications for the federal Race to the
Top grant. The goal of the program is to increase student achievement through
reform in four areas: teacher effectiveness, educational data systems, standards
and assessments, and improvement among low-performing schools. Applications
will be judged on past success and an illustrated commitment to further
innovation in these areas. Below is an overview of The Oregon Plan described in
the state's application. If the Oregon application is successful, the state
could receive $200 million to implement their plans.
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Oregon's Race to the Top Application
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Teacher Effectiveness:
Th e application offers a sincere commitment to recruiting
and retaining highly effective teachers and presents the CLASS Project as a
model for doing so. The application also draws on the work of the Oregon
Leadership Network.
Under the Oregon Plan, teachers and administrators will be
evaluated in a number of areas allowing for targeted professional development
to better meet student and teacher needs. The evaluation criteria will be based
primarily on the model by Charlotte Danielson that has also informed much of
the CLASS Project work. Additionally, teacher preparation programs will be
evaluated in order to improve the level of training new teachers receive.
The Plan pledges to support teachers early in their careers
through expanded mentoring programs and long-term professional growth and
development models. This commitment to supporting teachers will help Oregon
achieve its goal of having highly qualified teachers in all of its districts
and schools.
Data:
Building on the Oregon DATA Project, the State plans to
create an online data portal with comprehensive information on student performance
that will track progress throughout a student's tenure in the Oregon
educational system. The State is already seeking funding for Project ALDER (Advancing Longitudinal Data for Educational
Reform), which would allow teacher and student performance data to be linked.
Such a robust data source will not only provide valuable information to state
and national policy analysts, but will also provide invaluable feedback to
teachers and districts that can be incorporated into professional development
planning.
Assessments:
Oregon is already
part of the Common Core Standards Initiative and the American Diploma Project,
two consortia designed to develop common academic assessment standards. While our assessment tests already
receive national recognition, the State is committed to continued improvement
and to making our standards comparable with those used internationally, such as
the Program for International Student Assessment. Such common standards are
intended to make data and professional development opportunities more
meaningful.
School Improvement:
Oregon will use its
Achievement Index and graduation rates to identify the five percent of lowest
performing schools. The identified
districts and schools will create an intervention plan and work intensively
with the State to increase student achievement. Particular attention will be
paid to strengthening early-learner programs, enhancing parental involvement,
and providing adequate professional development to staff.
A number of
individuals and organizations came together to develop Oregon's application.
The work has elevated the conversation about reform in a number of areas,
beginning an important statewide dialogue about how to move Oregon's education
system forward.
The first round of
Race to the Top winners will be announced later this spring.
Learn more about the federal Race to the Top Program at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html
Learn about Oregon's Race to the Top application and the process at the Oregon Department of Education's Race to the Top web page.
Read all of the Oregon Plan.
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