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January 14, 2013 Building World-Class Schools for Iowa: A Legislative Brief Dear Iowans, As the first gavel of the 2013 legislative session falls, I’m pleased to provide this legislative brief on the components of the education reform package introduced by Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. At full implementation, this package invests $187 million into our schools. Jason E. Glass, Ed.D. The Iowa Department of Education has joined the Office of the Governor to prepare a set of legislative proposals that will bring Iowa closer to its goal of providing a world-class education to all children, no matter where they live. This legislative brief serves as an overview of that legislation, which I encourage you to read and discuss in greater detail. The goals behind these policies are straightforward: Comprehensively and systematically raise and support the teaching profession while expanding efforts to customize instruction to every student’s passion and talents. Iowa’s children deserve the best education we can provide so they leave our schools with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful and rewarding lives. Iowa has many good schools with hard-working, talented educators who deserve our respect and appreciation. While we honor the past work of generations of Iowans who built a strong foundation in education, it is our responsibility – and our turn – to make a focused, dedicated effort to improve Iowa’s schools. We stand at a pivotal moment in Iowa’s storied education history, in which we have the opportunity and will as a community to make the transition from being “good” to being “great.” Sincerely, Jason E. Glass, Ed.D. State Director and Chief Learner Iowa Department of Education Building World-Class Schools for Iowa – page 1 Component 1: Teacher Leadership and Compensation System What it’s about: Teachers are the most among all teachers. Many talented important influence on learning inside people become teachers to make a schools, and they are being asked to do difference, but there are few ways to increasingly complex work to prepare advance professionally without leaving all children for this knowledge- and the classroom. This new system keeps innovation-based global economy. This our best teachers in front of children, but requires better preparation of new they are paid more to take on leadership Background: teachers and better support for teachers responsibility for the purposes of This proposal is based on the already in the classroom to more strengthening the teaching around them. recommendations of the Task effectively meet the needs of each student. This plan spreads out great teaching and Force on Teacher Leadership makes an impact on more students. It also and Compensation, which That’s why the centerpiece of the ensures our most effective teachers earn represented diverse Branstad-Reynolds administration’s entry into the leadership pathways through perspectives from across education package is establishing a the establishment of a rigorous and fair Iowa. new teacher selection process. leadership and Key Elements: compensation In addition, this system. This compensation • Raise starting salaries: system will structure makes Make teaching more put many of teaching more attractive with a minimum Iowa’s top attractive to top starting salary of $35,000 teachers in new students. The • Improve entry into instructional proposal raises the the profession: Create a leadership roles $28,000 minimum residency year for all new alongside school annual starting teachers that includes a administrators. salary to $35,000 reduced teaching load It’s no longer and improves entry and increased learning realistic to into the profession opportunities expect one by providing new • Enhance career principal to teachers additional opportunities: provide all the opportunities for Design a system of instructional mentoring and career pathways with leadership collaboration. This differentiated pay and needed in includes a reduced responsibilities each school. teaching load during Improving their first year so • Address labor market the academic they have time to issues: Provide incentives outcomes observe outstanding for teachers to teach in of students teachers. high-need schools requires improving the instruction they receive Such an approach raises the status of the each day. There is no better way to do profession by paying teachers more at the this than to empower our best teachers to beginning of their careers and providing lead the effort. additional opportunities for growth and leadership throughout their careers. We must give the most effective teachers the opportunity to both teach and lead, Finally, the proposal helps Iowa’s highest- and we must foster greater collaboration need schools become more competitive Building World-Class Schools for Iowa – page 2 Component 1: Teacher Leadership and Compensation System cont. in recruiting and retaining outstanding school districts will have the opportunity teachers. It provides state assistance to to apply for a planning grant to determine increase the compensation for teachers in how to adapt the system to the local schools where high teacher turnover may context. The system will take effect for affect student achievement growth. all schools in the 2016-17 school year, and districts will be able to apply for early Ultimately, this system is about implementation beginning in the 2014-15 strengthening the teaching profession for school year. the benefit of both students and teachers. Effective implementation of this system will be critical to its success. Accordingly, Career Pathways Career Model s r u al e t i e Mentor ri it r e n a m I C E Lead Admin The teacher leadership pathways include initial, career, model, mentor and lead teachers. The plan also establishes emeritus teachers to better utilize the talent of retired teachers. State Budget Impact: First year (FY 2014): $5 million Second year (FY 2015): $60 million Fully implemented (Annual cost): $160 million Building World-Class Schools for Iowa – page 3 Component 2: Teach Iowa Initiative What it’s about: A common theme rather than the typical one semester. among the world’s highest-performing This is modeled after a successful Key Elements: school systems is that they attract top program at Arizona State University that • Tuition talent into the teaching pipeline. The aims to turn out brand-new teachers reimbursement: $4,000 Teach Iowa Initiative is a committed who tend to be as effective as second- a year – $20,000 total effort to do the same in Iowa. This year teachers. Student teachers receive – for top students who initiative builds on an existing program to intensive support and training, similar to commit to teach in Iowa provide both relief and incentive through that of the medical profession. Because schools for five years tuition reimbursement to top students many new teachers leave the profession who commit to teach in Iowa schools for within a few years, it’s clear that more • Hard-to-hire subject five years. support and training are necessary. areas: Many of these awards will go to students Tuition reimbursement will be available Finally, the Teach Iowa Initiative includes majoring in hard-to- only to those students whose academic a simplified approach to connecting hire subject areas, such credentials are better than, or equal to, teachers with job openings in schools. as science, technology, the top 25 percent of candidates in the It establishes a statewide web-based engineering, and state’s approved teacher preparation education job posting system that will mathematics programs and who demonstrate make the processes for hiring and • Student teaching important traits for teaching, such as applying for jobs more efficient. This pilot: Strengthen clinical dedication and relationship-building. system will reduce paperwork for experience with a full Many of these awards will go to students applicants, provide cost savings to school year of student teaching majoring in hard-to-hire subject areas, districts and taxpayers, keep hiring in the senior year of such as science, technology, engineering, decisions within school districts, and college, rather than the and mathematics. Upon college will provide better data about educator typical one semester graduation and placement in a classroom, supply and demand. • Jobs board: A statewide Teach Iowa scholars will be awarded education job posting $4,000 a year for up to system five years of teaching. This approach not only reduces the financial burdens of those scholars, it also gives Iowa students access to highly trained, highly competent instructors in challenging subject areas. The Teach Iowa Initiative also includes a pilot program to strengthen clinical experience with a full year of student teaching in the senior year of college, State Budget Impact*: First year (FY 2014): $3 million Second year (FY 2015): $3 million Fully implemented (Annual cost): $13.5 million *Includes student teaching pilot program Building World-Class Schools for Iowa – page 4 Component 3: Iowa Promise Diploma Seals What it’s about: This program uses choose to pursue and earn them. The diploma seals to identify and recognize purpose is to help students better prepare graduating high school seniors who for the future and to align education with have demonstrated through certain workforce development in a thoughtful way. competencies that they are college- and A blue-ribbon commission of business and career-ready. These competencies include education leaders will set high standards for a college readiness exam or a career the seals to better define what it means to readiness assessment made available at be college- or career-ready, with the goal no cost to students who are completing of providing automatic college entrance or a core and specialized course of study at a hiring preference for students who earn a high level, as well as a senior portfolio the diploma seal. The first Iowa Promise assessment requiring the demonstration Diploma Seals will be available to the of concepts such as collaboration, critical graduating class of 2015. The program will thinking, and creativity. The seals are an be fully implemented by July 1, 2017, when optional addition to diplomas awarded students entering high school during the by Iowa high schools for students who 2013-14 school year will be graduating. State Budget Impact: First year (FY 2014): $4 million Second year (FY 2015): $4 million Fully implemented (Annual cost): $10 million Component 4: Educator Development System What it’s about: Iowa needs to update authority to develop and implement an Why a NCLB waiver? teacher and administrator standards and evaluation framework that differentiates • Not a retreat from evaluations to provide more valuable performance using three levels and also accountability. While feedback and to enable the state to win factors in student outcomes. This proposal the No Child Left Behind a waiver from components of the federal develops such a system through inclusive law has advanced some No Child Left Behind law. In 2012, Iowa input from a commission of education important reforms by became the first state in the nation to be leaders to guide the Iowa Department of shifting attention to rejected for a waiver application because Education in this policy area. the country’s neediest the state does not meet requirements students, it’s also widely in the areas of educator evaluations. In addition, the eight teaching standards acknowledged that the This has resulted in a stalled effort to that have been in place in Iowa for the law has created some replace a one-size-fits-all accountability past 11 years will be updated by July 1, unrealistic measures in framework that unfairly blames schools 2015. These updates will be made by its attempt to hold the serving more at-risk and disadvantaged the Iowa Department of Education with nation’s public schools students with a state accountability system recommendations from the commission. accountable. that emphasizes growth and fits Iowa’s This new system of educator standards • In Iowa: We still expect context. However, the U.S. Department will create consistency in the professional our schools to meet of Education has left the door open for a pipeline for teachers, from preparation to high standards. But we waiver, contingent upon legislative action practice. need a fair approach that to give the Iowa Department of Education recognizes that students State Budget Impact: come to school with different starting points First year (FY 2014): $500,000 and emphasizes growth Second year (FY 2015): $3.5 million and progress. Fully implemented (Annual cost): $3.5 million Building World-Class Schools for Iowa – page 5 Component 5: Expanding the Iowa Learning Online Program What is ILO? What it’s about: Statewide demand far Senate File 2284, adopted in the 2012 outpaces the supply of services provided legislative session, took major steps to Iowa Learning Online through Iowa Learning Online, a state- define online education in Iowa. One of provides online instruction run system that has provided high-quality those steps was to codify Iowa Learning with Iowa licensed instructors courses online and through the Iowa Online to provide support and long-term in various academic subjects, Communications Network since 2004. stability for the work of the program. This including those that are hard This federally funded Iowa Department proposal provides $1.5 million in seed to fill or in situations where of Education program reaches fewer than money for three consecutive years to help a school district has lost the 1,000 students a year. Classes have waiting Iowa Learning Online transition to a self- services of an instructor. This lists, and many students who want to take financing model and to expand services to popular program has filled an challenging courses that are not available about 2,500 students a year. In the long academic gap in this state and in their schools are turned away from term, Iowa Learning Online will be funded has helped school districts Iowa Learning Online because of limited only through users on a fee-based system. meet their educational needs. resources. Federal funding is capped, which stymies State Budget Impact*: expansion. An infusion First year (FY 2014): $1.5 million of state resources would Second year (FY 2015): $1.5 million expand the Iowa Learning Third year (FY 2016): $1.5 million Online program’s ability to serve students and school *Transitions to a fee-based system after third year districts in Iowa. Education Reform Package – Total Program Costs Program FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 Teacher Leadership and Compensation System $5,000,000 $60,000,000 $110,000,000 $160,000,000 $160,000,000 Teach Iowa Initiative $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,500,000 $13,500,000 Iowa Promise Diploma Seals $4,000,000 $4,000,000 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 Educator Development System $500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 Expanding the Iowa Learning Online Program $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $0 $0 TOTAL COSTS $14,000,000 $72,000,000 $129,500,000 $179,000,000 $187,000,000 Building World-Class Schools for Iowa – page 6