Data Driven Leadership

Questions and Answers

What is the Data Driven Leadership grant award?

The award program is a program designed to 1) provide training on Data Driven Leadership, 2) support the acquisition of technology hardware/software and 3) determine the current level of school use of technology and the support provided for its use. As part of the program there is a grant award for each principal and superintendent who successfully completes all the designated requirements in order to compensate the acquisition of technology hardware and software. The program is funded in part with a contribution from the Gates Foundation.

What is the eligibility for the grant award?

Eligibility is based on the completion of DDL training and the TAGLIT (Taking A Good Look At Instructional Technology) online survey. The principal and superintendent must complete the DDL training and the principal in addition must have 80% of his or her staff complete the TAGLIT online survey.

When does a school know it is eligible?

The Department will monitor the completion of DDL training for each principal and superintendent. The Department will also monitor the participation rate for each school in completing the TAGLIT online survey. Once both parts of the eligibility have been accomplished, a letter and form will be sent or emailed to the superintendent or principal. The letter gives directions on what to do in order to complete the application in order to receive the award.

Are superintendents eligible for a grant award?

Yes, each superintendent who successfully completed DDL requirements qualifies for the grant award.

If a principal serves as a principal in two or more buildings, how many grant awards can they apply for?

One, no matter how many buildings they serve.

Once a school or a superintendent is notified that they are eligible, what must be done to receive the award?

To receive reimbursement, superintendents and principals who receive the memo order technology hardware and peripherals (anything “connected” to a computer) from the Iowa AV/Computer Co-op catalog http://av.co-op.k12.ia.us/, and software from the Media and Technology Co-op http://www.iec-ia.org/.

Standard procedures to order are explained on the co-op web-sites. A paper copy of the invoice, of the order form (order placed by the “authorized purchaser” in the district), and the completed certification form is mailed to the Department of Education (DE) in order for the DE to authorize the distribution of the funds to the district. Each principal who successfully completed DDL requirements and TAGLIT, and each superintendent who successfully completed DDL requirements qualify for the grant award.

What are the limits on the purchases will be supported by the grant award?

Each principal and superintendent who is eligible and completes the requirements will receive a maximum reimbursement of $900 for purchases made. All purchases must be made from the Iowa AV/Computer Co-op for hardware and/or software. No other purchases will be reimbursed.

How can a principal know how many of his or her teachers have completed the TAGLIT online survey required for eligibility?

Principals can access a printable TAGLIT final report for the building at any time after the TAGLIT assessment window closes by doing the following:

· Login to TAGLIT using your login and password and go to the management screen.

· A new message on the screen says, "click here to get your data summary." Click on that link.

· To complete responses and to generate the final report: 1) click on the "responses" link, 2) enter the first response; go to the bottom of the screen and click on "submit," 3) enter the second response and go to the bottom of the screen and click on "submit," and 4) continue until all responses are entered.

· It is important to click on the "submit" after each item because TAGLIT times out after 15 minutes since the last “submit.” The TAGLIT system indicates receipt of the response after each “submit.” It is best to compose responses in a word processing program and then to copy/paste each response into the appropriate text box in the "responses" screen. Click "submit" after each paste. It is possible to modify your responses at any time by accessing the TAGLIT site using your login and password.

This report will show the number of teachers who have participated in the survey to date.

Will TAGLIT generate a district report in addition to the building report available to the principal at their site?

At this time, the developers of TAGLIT will generate district level reports by request. If interested, contact Warren K. Weber at warren.weber@ed.state.ia.us. The TAGLIT developer’s fee for this report will depend on the number of requests and the size of reports.

Where can DDL training be obtained and is there a cost?

Until June 30, 2004, those who complete DDL training as a requirement for Evaluator Approval certification receive DDL training at no cost. Those who need DDL for certification are given priority over other registrants. Until June 30, 2004, all others can complete DDL training at any AEA for a fee of $55 for the one hour of professional development credit. If DDL is available for graduate credit in a specific AEA, fees for graduate credit are at the rate for that post-secondary institution. Beginning July 1, 2004, all persons register for DDL at the standard rate determined by each AEA.

AEAs offer training to participants who are current administrators, who hold current evaluator approval certification, who move into Iowa with evaluator certification from another state, or who are teachers, board members, central office staff, etc.

Approved administrative preparation programs offer training to participants registered in the administrative preparation program of that institution. Participants in these programs must take the DDL training from the college or university where they are completing their administrative preparation program.

Can DDL training be completed on a test out basis instead of taking the four day training session?

The option of testing out will no longer be available after August 1, 2003.

How does a school register in order to open up the webpage needed in order for people to complete the online assessment?

The principal should contact Warren K. Weber, warren.weber@ed.state.ia.us or 515-281-3750 on order to register and allow his or her staff members to be able to complete the online survey.

Who must participate in the TAGLIT online survey in order to complete that part of the school’s eligibility?

Eighty percent (80%) of the teachers in the school must complete the online assessment. The base number is the number of FTE teachers reported for the school on the BEDs document.

Can Apple products be purchased through the AV/Computer Co-op?

Apple has consented to work with the Department though the AV/Computer Coop. The previous list of products available was effective through June 13, 2003. The AV/Computer Co-op is currently working on an update of a listing of Apple products through the hardware and peripherals catalog. It should be available early fall. The DE is currently taking names of those participants that have in interest in Apple products and the information will be provided when it is available.

Once the grant award is approved by the Department, how does the school get its money for each complete application?

The Department of Education will send payment for each school that has met the application requirements to their AEA. The Department will award funds to the AEA and the AEA will in turn pay those districts for those who have completed all the requirements.

Can a participant send in an application for the award on his or her own or must all participants in the district apply as a group?

Applications can be sent in individually from eligible participants who have completed all the requirements for the award. It is an option for the district to coordinate and provide all the individual applications as a package to the Department for processing and payment.