TO: Administrators of Public
School Districts
AEA
Administrators
FROM: Pamela Pfitzenmaier, Ph.D.,
Administrator
Division of PK-12 Education
SUBJECT: House File 2792 Student Achievement and
Teacher Quality Program
On Thursday, June 1, 2006, Governor
Vilsack signed House File (HF) 2792 that included funding for and changes to
the Student Achievement and Teacher Quality Program. The purpose of this memo
is to update the information regarding the Teacher Quality Program.
Beginning teacher librarians and counselors who are
new to education and who hold an initial license are now included in the
mentoring and induction program. Teacher interns are also included in the
mentoring and induction program.
HF 2792 continued the funding for the equivalent of
one day of professional development for teachers (one day was also funded in
the 2005-06 school year and this funding is a continuation of that, not an
additional day over the one added in 2005-06). NOTE: The amount to be paid
to each teacher was specified in HF 2792. Districts must distribute these funds
to teachers based on the individual teacher per diem amounts. Any surplus
funds must be carried over and used for the same purpose in the following
school year.
Question 1:
Does the district need to add an additional professional development day in 2006-07? No, but the
district must maintain the day added in the 2005-06 school year.
Question 2:
How much is provided to each school district and AEA? Compensation is
provided for the equivalent of one professional development day. HF 2792
allocated up to $10 million to the Department for use by school districts to
add the equivalent of one additional contract day to the school calendar. The
amount to be distributed to each district may be found at http://www.state.ia.us/educate/fis/sft/alloc/index.html. The amount listed for your district was based upon
the average per diem teacher contract salary for your district (not including
extracurricular activities) plus an adjustment for FICA and IPERS of 13.4
percent times 4 percent allowable growth. The actual district figure listed was
calculated based upon the number of full-time equivalent teachers in the
district per the fall 2005 certified teacher count. The purpose of this funding
is to provide the equivalent of one teacher contract day added to the school
calendar for professional development. School districts must distribute
these funds to teachers based on the individual teacher per diem amounts (not
including extracurricular activities).
Question 3: What “counts” as an additionala professional
development day?
The equivalent of one day should provide for
alignment with the Iowa Teaching Standards; career development needs of
teachers (District and Individual Teacher Career Development Plans);
research-based instructional strategies; alignment with the Comprehensive
School Improvement Plan student achievement goals; analysis, theory, classroom
demonstration and practice, technology integration, observation, reflection,
and peer coaching; and improvement in instructional practice and effect on
student learning. This would NOT include items such as mandatory trainings,
parent-teacher conference days, teachers preparing in their classrooms, staff
orientations, or time spent preparing grades/report cards/lesson plans. Might we want to say something about staff
development ceu’s? I’m probably causing
trouble suggesting that.
Question 4:
In planning for the equivalent of one contract day, does each of our
attendance centers have to add the equivalent day in the same manner? No, the
equivalent of one contract day may be implemented in different ways in
different buildings according to its needs. For example, an elementary building
may choose to add contract hours every other month while the high school may
add one-half contract day twice during the year. However, all teachers must
have the equivalent of one contract day for professional development per HF
2792.
C. Additional compensation for teacher salaries
and/or professional development (“Pot 2”)
HF 2792 allocated up to $6.625 million to the
Department for use by school districts for either salaries or to pay teachers
for professional development time, or both, as determined by the school
district. The amount to be distributed to your district may be found at http://www.state.ia.us/educate/fis/sft/alloc/index.html. The amount listed for your district is based upon
the same allocation formula as the existing basic Teacher Quality compensation
funding in Iowa Code 284.13 paragraph f: (1) Fifty percent of the allocation is
based upon basic enrollment of the district; and (2) Fifty percent of the
allocation is based upon the number of FTE teachers employed in the district. NOTE:
HF 2792 retained the same “Pot 2” language as was passed in 2005.
Question 5: What are the allowable expenditures for
these funds?
These funds are to be used only for either teacher salaries or to pay
teachers for professional development time, or both. While it is recognized that quality professional development
often requires additional support such as hiring consultants to deliver
professional development, substitute costs for teacher release time, and travel
costs, these expenditures are not allowed using these funds.
Question 6: Who determines whether the funds allocated
are used for salaries, professional development time, or both?
If the employees of a district/AEA eligible for these
funds are organized under Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code (collective bargaining),
the board and certified bargaining representatives shall mutually agree upon
the use and distribution of the funds. If the board and bargaining
representatives do not reach agreement by July 15 (or by another mutually
agreed upon date), then the board shall divide the funds among the eligible
teachers for salaries. Teachers employed on a less than full-time basis shall
receive a prorated amount.
Question 7: May the funds in paragraph C be used to
supplement the funding for the equivalent of one additional professional
development day if the allocation of funds provided through paragraph B is
insufficient?
Yes, by mutual agreement.
D. Market
factor teacher salaries (NEW for 2006-07)
HF 2792 also provided $3,390,000 for state assistance
to allow school districts to add a market factor to teacher salaries paid by
the school districts. (AEAs are not included in this allotment.) Market factor
salary incentives may include improving salaries for factors due to geographic
differences and subject-area shortages. The amount to be distributed to your
district may be found at http://www.state.ia.us/educate/fis/sft/alloc/index.html. The use of these funds will be determined by the
school board. These funds shall supplement, but not supplant,
wages and salaries paid as a result of a collective bargaining agreement
reached pursuant to Chapter 20.
E. Reporting requirements
HF 2792 continues the reporting requirements for local districts. The intended use of the funds received for professional development/teacher salaries will be reported as part of the Fall BEDS (Basic Educational Data Survey) collections.
If your district has more questions, contact Dianne
Chadwick (515-281-3718 or dianne.chadwick@iowa.gov).