The TIF 4 draft regulations place emphasis on the core elements of both performance- based compensation and human capital management systems. Additionally, US ED looks for grant proposals that demonstrate an applicant has already engaged stakeholders on these core elements. This timeline means it is not too early to get started.

The proposed regulations, which are subject to comment and change, place greater emphasis on several areas for TIF 4. Applicants will need to make a direct connection between their state and district teacher and principal evaluation systems and the TIF grant. Therefore, TIF initiatives should work seamlessly with the new teacher and principal evaluation systems being implemented through Race to the Top, as well as those being implemented under new state legislation or through the US ED waivers granted to states through the ESEA Flexibility process. Performance-based compensation will need to be awarded based on teacher evaluation and can also be based on teachers accepting additional professional responsibilities and career ladder positions.

In addition, measures of student and teacher success under both TIF and new teacher and principal evaluation systems need to include measures of student academic growth. Many states are implementing value-added measures of student growth in tested subjects which should be incorporated into the TIF grant. Others are using student growth percentiles. Further, some states and districts are looking to measure student growth and improve instruction by using Student Learning Objectives (SLOs). CTAC has been developing, implementing, and evaluating SLOs as a measure of student growth for more than a decade and currently supports SLO projects in Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC), Volusia County (FL), and throughout New York State. For more information on CTAC and SLOs, please visit www.ctacusa.com/slos.html.