Delaware Talent Cooperative

EQUITY. RECOGNITION. EXCELLENCE.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

OVERVIEW
What is the Delaware Talent Cooperative? e Delaware Talent Cooperative (Co-Op) is designed to put the most eective educators in front of the students who need them most and to support schools that have high populations of traditionally underserved students. e Co-Op encourages some of the states most accomplished educators (teachers, specialists, and school leaders) to transfer to the highest-need schools or to continue working there. It includes awards and recognition for educators, professional development, leadership opportunities, and grant opportunities for participating schools. Why start the Co-Op? Students from low-income communities tend to be taught by newer, less experienced educators, even though these students typically are most in need of our best educators. Delaware is renewing its commitment to putting the most eective educators in the schools that need them most. e state is supporting this commitment with nancial resources for educators and schools through the Co-Op. is initiative and other statewide eorts are about:

Keeping all of us focused on student learning. Working together to increase the academic success of our students, particularly those who have traditionally been underserved.

Treating educators like the professionals they are. Highlighting outstanding work in Delawares
schools. e Co-Op complements other state initiatives to support and strengthen teaching, including the new state-led Teacher Advisory Councils (TACs), statewide Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and the upcoming Teaching & Learning Conditions Survey (TELLDelaware www.telldelaware.org). TACs are groups of teachers that meet regularly with the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) to weigh in on the most pressing educational issues for our students and schools.

BENEFITS
What are the benets for participating educators? Benets for educators (teachers, specialists, and school leaders) who join the Co-Op include: $20,000. Participating schools all have high populations of traditionally underserved students. (See When do eligible educators earn retention awards? for details.)

Retention awards: Between $2,500 and $10,000

over two years for eligible educators already working in participating schools. Educators can earn this award annually, for a total of up to

Attraction awards: Awards up to $20,000 over

two years for eligible educators to transfer to participating schools.

Delaware Talent Cooperative

EQUITY. RECOGNITION. EXCELLENCE.

Formal recognition by DDOE for their commitment and practice, including an annual convening of Co-Op educators with Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Murphy.

What are the benets for schools? Participating schools can receive grants of up to $10,000 for school improvement eorts. A school is eligible for a grant if (a) it has at least two educators participating in the Co-Op (any combination of educators receiving attraction and/or retention awards); and (b) it has met at least 50 percent of student growth targets in the 201213 or 201314 school year. Decisions about how to use school grants will be made by educators at the building level. Participating schools will be asked to submit a one-page proposal to apply for their grants and to provide periodic updates about how grant funds are used. DDOE will provide a template for the proposals. Grants are not available for schools classied as Partnership Zone or Focus.

Initial training (attraction award educators)

and ongoing professional development (all educators) at no cost to the educator. All Co-Op educators become part of a professional learning community that spans all districts and schools throughout the state.

Leadership opportunities as well as

opportunities to learn from others in the Co-Op.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Which schools are eligible to participate? Eligible schools are schools that serve high populations of traditionally underserved students. Specically, a school is eligible if it meets at least one of these four conditions: Schools are not eligible if they:

Do not participate in the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS).

It is a Partnership Zone school. It participated in the states Talent Retention

program in 201112.

Have fewer than 100 students. Are special schools serving distinct populations
(e.g., classied as Intensive Learning Centers). Participating schools are expected to comply with all requirements of the Delaware Performance and Appraisal System (DPAS II), such as required observations and roster verication process. Which schools are participating? All eligible districts and charter schools received a letter of invitation from DDOE dated December 14, 2012. Districts and charter schools must tell the state whether they intend to participate by January 14, 2013. A list of participating schools will be available on the initiatives website, www.DEtalentcoop.org.

It is one of the top 15 schools in at least two of

these three statewide categories: Highest percentage of non-white students Highest percentages of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals Highest percentages of English language learners

At least 75 percent of its students are non-white,

eligible for free and reduced-price meals, or English language learners.

Delaware Talent Cooperative

EQUITY. RECOGNITION. EXCELLENCE.

WHICH EDUCATORS ARE ELIGIBLE AND HOW TO APPLY

Which educators are eligible for attraction awards? For the 201314 school year, eligible educators are English language arts (ELA) and math teachers in grades 3 to 10 and school leaders who are highly eective. An educator is considered highly eective if he or she meets at least one of the following criteria: to apply and interview at all participating schools where openings match their expertise and qualications. Schools and districts have nal authority to determine which sta to hire for any open positions and whether to hire an educator participating in the Co-Op or another educator. Co-Op educators transferring to a new school must transfer to their new schools by October 15, 2013, to be eligible for the nancial award. After that date, Co-Op educators who are eligible to transfer will be moved to the next years Co-Op cohort. Educators who have not accepted jobs in participating schools by October 15 can participate in professional development and other Co-Op activities throughout the spring, summer, and school year. Which educators are eligible for retention awards? For the 201314 school year, eligible educators are all teachers, specialists, and school leaders who currently teach in a participating school and meet at least one of these criteria:

He or she earned a Highly Eective summative

rating at the end of 201112.

He or she was rated Exceeds on Component V of

the DPAS II in summer 2012 (based upon the 201112 school year). DDOE will review any individual educators Component V report if he or she wants to apply for the Co-Op and believes that he or she should have been rated Exceeds on Component V. Eligible educators also must commit to working in a participating school for at least two years. Educators who are on improvement plans are not eligible. Next year, attraction awards will be available to educators who work in other subject areas and grades. How do educators apply for attraction awards? Educators interested in transferring to a participating school must complete an online application by March 22, 2013. Applications will be available at www.DEtalentcoop.org beginning January 28, 2013. roughout April, DDOE will screen all educators who completed an application and met the eligibility criteria. By April 29, 2013, DDOE will notify educators who are accepted to the Co-Op. DDOE will share the names and qualications of accepted educators with participating schools in May. Educators who are accepted will be considered for job openings in participating schools for the 2013 14 school year. Co-Op members will be encouraged

He or she earns a Highly Eective summative

rating in Spring 2013.

He or she is rated Exceeds on Component V of

the DPAS II in spring 2013. Eligible educators also must commit to staying in their current school for at least two years. Educators who are on improvement plans are not eligible. How do educators apply for retention awards? ere is no need to apply for retention awards. DDOE will notify all educators in participating schools who qualify for the two-year award and automatically pay the award to those educators as long as they commit to remaining in their school for two years and being active in the Co-Op program.

Delaware Talent Cooperative

EQUITY. RECOGNITION. EXCELLENCE.

AWARD DETAILS
When do eligible educators earn attraction awards? Teachers and school leaders who transfer to participating schools will receive up to $10,000 in the fall of 2013 (their rst year in their new school). ey will receive up to $10,000 in fall of 2014 (their second year) if they meet at least one of the following criteria: For educators who do not teach ELA or math, each participating school will receive a pool of funds for retention awards. For each school, total funds will be based on the number of educators who do not teach ELA or math. Funds will be divided equally among teachers who earn a Highly Eective summative ratings and/or Exceeds ratings on Component V of DPAS II. School leaders will receive an award of up to $10,000 over two years up to $5,000 in fall of 2013 and up to $5,000 in fall of 2014 as long as they stay in the same school and remain active in the Co-Op program. e exact amount of awards will be based on the number of eligible educators in the Co-Op. Educators of all subjects and school leaders who earn a second Highly Eective summative rating and/or Exceeds rating in spring 2014 will receive a second retention award ($2,500 to $10,000 over two years), bringing their total award to as much as $20,000. Educators who earn retention awards in consecutive years can collect the two awards simultaneously. For ELA and math teachers as well as school leaders, the exact amount of awards will be based on the number of eligible educators in the Co-Op. For non-ELA or math educators, each years award will be calculated using the formula described above. Can the same educator earn a transfer award and a retention award? No, but as explained above, educators can earn retention awards in consecutive years.

Earned at least an Eective summative rating at

the end of 201213.

Are rated at least Satisfactory on Component V

of DPAS II in summer 2013. Eligible educators also must stay in the same school for the second year. Educators who are on improvement plans are not eligible. e exact amount of awards will be based on the number of eligible educators in the Co-Op. When do eligible educators earn retention awards? Eligible ELA and math teachers will receive an award of up to $10,000 over two years up to $5,000 in fall of 2013 and up to $5,000 in fall of 2014 as long as they stay in the same school and remain active in the Co-Op program. e exact amount of awards will be based on the number of eligible educators in the Co-Op. All other eligible educators will receive awards of $2,500 to $10,000 over two years half in fall of 2013, half in fall of 2014 as long as they stay in the same school and remain active in the Co-Op program.

Delaware Talent Cooperative

EQUITY. RECOGNITION. EXCELLENCE.

SKILLS, COMMITMENTS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Which skills will make someone successful in this program? Educators and school leaders should demonstrate that they can have a strong impact in the classroom and the school. Critical skills include: Co-Op professional development sessions, and be involved in Co-Op activities. For teachers and specialists, this involvement may include participating in a TAC, attending or presenting at information sessions about the Co-Op, being a new teacher mentor, and being a teacher leader in their building or district. For school leaders, it may include serving as a leader of leaders or mentoring new administrators. What professional development will be part of the Co-Op? During spring and summer 2013, the Co-Op will hold initial training for transferring educators. is professional development will focus on understanding diverse learning needs of students, getting to know school culture, and taking on new leadership roles. Transferring educators will be expected to attend these trainings, and those who receive retention awards may be asked to help facilitate the sessions. Ongoing professional development will deepen educators skills in these areas and focus on mentoring other educators and building collaborative learning communities at their schools. School leaders ongoing professional development will focus on leadership training, attracting and retaining excellent educators, and building school culture. All professional development will be provided at no cost to Co-Op participants.

Leadership skills, demonstrated by serving in

leadership roles, understanding the attributes of an eective leader, and advocating for teachers and families.

Collaboration and team building skills,

such as having knowledge of adult learning strategies and group dynamics, having eective facilitation skills, having strong written and oral communication skills, and being respectful and positive in interactions with others.

Eective instruction skills, demonstrated

by using student achievement data to improve student outcomes; setting ambitious goals for all students, regardless of background or past performance; taking personal responsibility for all students meeting those goals; and/ or building sta capacity to provide eective instruction.

Reection and constant learning skills, such

as being able to reect on ones performance to identify challenges and successes. What are Co-Op participants committing to do? Co-Op participants agree to serve in a participating school for at least two years, participate in

Delaware Talent Cooperative

EQUITY. RECOGNITION. EXCELLENCE.

KEY DATES AND MORE INFORMATION

What are the key dates for the program?

Fall 2014: Teachers in the 2013 Co-Op Cohort

receive the second half of their awards How can I learn more about the program? DDOE is holding information session on the following dates and times:

December 20, 2012: Information session

for Kent County, 13 p.m., Capital District Administrative Oce

January 3, 2013: Information session for Sussex

County, 911 a.m., Laurel Middle School Library

January 7, 2013: Information session for New

Castle County, 13 p.m., Red Clay District Administrative Oce

Kent County: December 20, 2012, 13 p.m.,

Capital District Administrative Oce

New Castle County: January 7, 2013, 13 p.m.,

Red Clay District Administrative Oce

January 14, 2013: Eligible districts/schools

notify DDOE of their intent to participate

Sussex County: January 3, 2013, 911 a.m.,

Laurel Middle School Library DDOE is holding two information sessions by webinar:

January 23, 2013: Webinar information session

for educators, 34 p.m.

January 28, 2013: Online application for attraction program becomes available

January 30, 2013: Webinar information session

for educators, 45 p.m.

January 23, 2013, from 34 p.m. January 30, 2013, from 45 p.m.
You also can e-mail your questions to Angeline Willen, Director, Teacher & Leader Eectiveness Unit, DDOE, angeline.willen@doe.k12.de.us. Questions will be answered within two business days. How was the Co-Op developed? DDOE worked with an Advisory Council that included representatives of the DDOE, the Delaware State Education Association, the Delaware Charter Schools Network, community organizations, districts, and schools. e Advisory Council participated in developing the initiative by providing input and advice at key points in the process. DDOE also held focus groups with teachers across the state, and their input helped shape the program. For example, feedback from the Advisory Council and focus groups promoted the idea of recognizing teachers in non-tested subjects and grades and including grants to schools. Education First coordinated the work in conjunction with Teacher & Leader Eectiveness Unit sta.

March 22, 2013: Deadline for applications

for attraction program (educators eligible for transfer awards)

Late March and April 2013: DDOE screens

applications

By April 29, 2013: DDOE selects 2013 Co-Op

Cohort members (for attraction program) and noties all educators who applied

May 2013: Educators eligible for transfer awards

begin to interview for jobs in participating schools while participating in the rst two professional development seminars

By June 30, 2013: DDOE identies and noties

educators who will receive 2013 retention awards

July 2013: Summer Institute, other training

(exact dates to be announced)

October 15: Deadline for educators to transfer

to a new school to be eligible for the attraction award

Fall 2013: Teachers in the 2013 Co-Op Cohort

receive the rst half of their awards