Link Roster Verification Communications Plan Sample

Sample Award Highlights E-mail to Staff from Superintendent

DATE:

TO:District Staff Members

FROM:Superintendent

SUBJECT:TIF Update

Districtis excited about continuing the work related to our participation in Ohio TIF.

This the fall, our TIF Coordinator and other representatives from throughout the district have been engaged in professional development around value-added data, formative instructional practices, college- and career-readiness, and change leadership. [insert additional information about professional development and how it impacting the entire staff].

As you know, one component of our participation in Ohio TIF is our district’s award model to recognize excellence. District is proud that we have the opportunity to recognize staff members who made outstanding contributions to our district’s work to enhance student achievement, accelerate student growth, build capacity, and foster leadership.

Program Highlights:

[insert information/data about award model component goals that were met]
Districtcommunicated the TIF program and award model to staff in a variety of ways over the 2011‒2012 school year, including [insert information about communications activities.]
As you know, funding for the TIF award model comes from U.S. Department of Education, and the funds cannot be used to support district general operations. Long-term sustainability of this work is important, so our district is beginning conversations about how to sustain the work of TIFbeyond the five-year duration of the grant.

We are extremely proud of the accomplishments all districtstaff and students made in the 2011‒2012 school year. [insert a few sentences about some specific accomplishments, and how they relate to the district’s goals and vision]. These accomplishments were possible because of the hard work and dedication of everyone!

District is committed to continuing our work to ensure all students graduate prepared for future success. Enhancements have been made for our Year 2 award model for the 2012‒2013 school year to include [insert high-level information about changes made for Year 2 Award Model]. Districtwill utilize similar communications channels to ensure staff is aware of the components of the Year 2 award model.

Public Records Request: Please note, in compliance with Ohio public records laws, our district will be required to provide information regarding the TIF award models to local media outlets upon request. If we receive any media inquiries regarding award program data, we will keep you informed.

Award Talking Points and Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions—Teachers

Why did some staff receive awards and others did not?

Our district developed an award model aligned with our mission and goals. The award model recognizes outstanding contributions to student outcomes through student achievement and value-added data, as well as contributions to building capacity and taking on leadership roles in the district. The award model was designed to truly recognize excellence—and educators have not just met high goals, but exceeded them.

Not receiving an award does not mean a staff member did not make positive contributions to student outcomes or grow as a professional, it just means the individual did not meet the criteria established in our district award model.

Why was I not eligible for a TIF award?

Federal TIF guidelines specifify that all Core Teacher; Non-Core Teachers; Principals; Assistant Principals, and certain Certificated Para-Educators (such as nurses, psychologists, speech pathologists, or media specialists who have a teaching license and engage in at least 50 percent instructional contact time with students) are eligible to participate in Ohio TIF. Classified instructional professionals/assistants do not qualify under Ohio’s TIF grant, but they may be included with local funds if a district chooses to expand their award plan.

In addition to these federal guidelines, our district also established local eligibility requirements, which were communicated to staff along with the award model components. Even though not all staff are eligible for the award program, everyone is benefiting from the professional development and other supports our district is receiving through Ohio TIF.

I did not receive an award. How am I benefiting from our district being part of Ohio TIF?

The award program is just one part of our district’s participation in Ohio TIF. A major component of our district’s participation in TIF is professional development opportunities around topics including value-added data, formative instructional practices, college- and career-readiness, change leadership, and strategic compensation. This is professional development that is helping all of our district educators grow.

Additionally, we are receiving extended value-added reporting our district is using to help inform instructional practices and personalize learning, and we have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from 22 other districts that are part of Ohio TIF.

Will information about TIF awards be released to the public?

Information about educator evaluations and salaries has always been available to the public through Ohio’s public records laws. In fact, a number of organizations, such as the Ohio Treasurer and the Buckeye Institute, already post public employee salaries on their website. TIF awards are no exception, so if we do receive a public records request for TIF award information we are obligated to provide that data. We will be sure to keep you informed in the event we receive a request.

Will the award model change for next school year?

Yes. As with any new program, it will take time for our district to become accustomed to the TIF award model criteria, metrics, and payout award process. The award model we implemented in 2011‒2012 was designed to be a simple award model with the intention of updating the model over the course of the grant.

In the spring of 2012, we developed an updated award model to implement in the 2012‒2013 school year. Information about the updated award model will be provided to staff throughout the 2012‒2013 school year, and payouts on this updated award model will take place in late fall 2013.

How will our district sustain the award program after the five-year TIF grant?

Sustainability is an important part of Ohio TIF. The grant requires districts to meet matching funds goals starting in Year 3 of the grant, meaning that an increasing share of the award program must be covered by the district, either with local funds, other non-TIF funding sources or through in-kind matches. To plan for this, we are convening a Local Sustainability Workgroup, made up of both staff and community members, to identify opportunities for funding to sustain the work of Ohio TIF beyond the federal funding.

Frequently Asked Questions—Parents and Families

How are students benefiting from Ohio TIF?

Through the work of Ohio TIF, districts are working to ensure there are effective teachers in every classroom and quality leaders in every building. This involes using data to inform and influence instructional practices, and providing teachers and principals with training and support to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to help all students succeed. Ultimately, this work is helping our district to support the most important resource in helping students become college- and career-ready—our educators.

My child’s teacher didn’t receive an award. What supports are they receiving to improve their practice?

The award model is just one component of our district’s participation in Ohio TIF. All teachers in our district are benefiting from professional development opportunities around topics including value-added data, formative instructional practices, college- and career-readiness, change leadership, and strategic compensation. This professional development is designed to help all educators in our district grow and improve their classroom practice, which will ultimately benefit students.

The TIF award program is one way our district is recognizing educators for their outstanding work to help students succeed. There are teachers who may not receive an award in a particular year. That does not necessarily mean that their students didn’t grow academically, or that they are not good teachers. It only means the teacher did not meet the criteria established in the district award model. Therefore, parents should not use this information as a way to judge the quality of their child’s teacher.

What funding is used to support the award program, and why is recognizing excellence important?

Our district’s TIF award model is funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education. We are proud of our educators commitment to excellence, and we believe it is important to recognize and celebrate this. The TIF award program is one way the district is recognizing educators who make oustanding contributions to student academic achievement and progress. Teaching is hard work, and it is important that the district do all it can to promote good teaching for all of our students. Recognizing and rewarding highly effective educators helps our district recruit and retain excellent teachers.

Can TIF funding be used to support other needs in our district?

Ohio TIF is funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). The USDOE has specific spending requirements for TIF dollars, and therefore Ohio TIF funds cannot be used to support district general operations or work that falls outside the work of Ohio TIF.

Are local tax dollars being used to fund awards?

At this time, no local funding is being used for TIF awards. However, sustainability of this work is important. To address this challenge, our district has established a Local Sustainability Workgroup to identify opportunities to determine which elements of the TIF work are important for our district to sustain, and secure future funding to ensure components of this grant—such as professional development, extended value-added reporting, and/or award models—can continue after the duration of the five-year grant.