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Questions & Answers
Q – Why isn’t
every teacher in the District eligible?
A – By state
rule, every eligible teacher in the DATE program must be guaranteed a
minimum of $1000. Dividing the total award ($2,127,307) by the number of
teachers in Irving ISD (approximately 2200) would bring the minimum
award to less than $1000. It was never the intent of the Legislature,
nor TEA, to have a program in which every teacher could qualify.
Q – How did
the Texas Education Agency determine the Total Award amount of
$2,127,307?
A – The state has
budgeted $147,500,000 for the DATE program. The District’s share is
determined by the number of Texas districts participating in the plan,
and by the district’s average daily attendance. The larger the district,
the more money it receives.
Q – Why are
the total funds split between Part 1 and Part 2 at 67% and 33%
A – TEA required
the split to be a minimum of 60% in Part 1. The DATE Committee decided
to go with 67% to maximize the number of teachers eligible under Part 1,
yet keep a significant amount of money in Part 2.
Q – When is
the timeline for the implementation of the DATE program, as well as when
will eligible teachers get paid?
A – The program
is in effect for the 2008-2009 school year, and payments will be made in
September 2009 to those who qualify.
Q – Are part
time teachers eligible?
A – No, according
to TEA rules, an educator must teach in an instructional setting for at
least four hours per day.
Q – What does
“Teacher of Record” mean?
A – A “Teacher of
Record” is one who plans and implements instruction in a classroom, and
is the primary person responsible for assigning grades to students. A
regular third grade teacher with 22 students assigned to his/her
classroom is the Teacher of Record. A teacher who works with individual
students in several classrooms, such as an inclusion special education
teacher, is not the Teacher of Record.
Q – Why are
only 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers included in elementary Part 1?
A – In an attempt
to narrow down the number of eligible teachers, the Committee determined
that eligible teachers at the elementary level should be restricted to
just the TAKS administration levels.
Q – First and
second grade teachers contribute to the TAKS scores in upper grade
levels, as do special education, music, PE, and other non-TAKS grade
level teachers. Are they not as important?
A – Absolutely!
The DATE plan is not intended to indicate that 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade
teachers are any better or any more important. However, when required to
directly tie achievement to the DATE program, this was the best group of
teachers to identify. Remember, the DATE program does not allow all
teachers to be eligible, so the DATE Committee had to make some very
hard decisions.
Q – I don’t
understand the mentoring requirement in Part Two?
A – If you campus
is rated Recognized or Exemplary, you need to show how you specifically
helped the campus reach this distinguished achievement. The DATE plan
requires that you document how you mentored students during the
2008-2009 school year. You should have mentored one or more students,
and which means you have provided academic assistance in an environment
that promotes a positive and supportive relationship. All mentoring must
occur on an IISD campus, and it must be done on your own time. You
cannot mentor during your assigned class periods, during a paid tutoring
session, or during a scheduled duty time. You can mentor outside the
school day, or even during your conference period. The DATE Plan for
mentoring requires at least nine contact units during the 2008-2009
school year.
Q – What are
Contact Units?
A – A Contact
Unit is defined as an uninterrupted block of 30 minutes beyond the
regular instructional day, with a maximum of three units per week.
Q – How do I
document the mentoring?
A – You must
complete the Student/Parent Mentoring Documentation form by June 5,
2009, and turn it in with your DATE Application no later than September
1, 2009.
Q – Is the
secondary Part 1 program by school or by subject?
A – Actually
both. If the subject area TAKS scores on a secondary campus reach the
minimum qualifications, then all the teachers on that campus who teach
that subject may qualify for the award.
Q – So, if a
teacher only teaches one social studies class, and the social studies
TAKS scores meet the minimum, then that teacher qualifies for the award
– the same as a teacher who teaches six sections?
A – That is
correct. All teachers, whether teaching one section or six, contributes
to the TAKS score in that subject. This will also encourage more
teamwork in planning and evaluation. The Committee considered a tiered
award system, but with a minimum of $1000 that had to be guaranteed, the
money did not work.
Q – What about
Government teachers who teach only seniors? Why should they be included
if they don’t directly teach for TAKS assessment.
A – Government
TEKS are sprinkled throughout the Social Studies curriculum, and at the
secondary level, the Committee wants to encourage teamwork within a
department. This would encourage a senior Government teacher to do some
tutoring with TAKS tested students at lower grade levels, as well as
work harder at planning with fellow teachers to make sure TAKS
objectives are taught in his/her class.
Q – How does a
secondary teacher in a non-TAKS grade level, but in the same subject
area, prove they are teaching appropriate TAKS objectives?
A – A secondary
teacher who teaches in the subject area assessed by TAKS, but does not
teach in the TAKS assessed grade level, must complete the Lesson Plan
Documentation form. This requires documentation of a minimum of 45
lesson plans with at least one TAKS objective.
Q – When is
the timeframe for incorporating TAKS objectives into the lesson plans?
A – Between
October 1, 2008 and May 19, 2009.
Q – Why is the
Lesson Plan Documentation form due by June 5, 2009, and the Secondary
Application due September 1, 2009?
A – It is
important for the documentation of TAKS lesson planning to be completed
by the end of the 2008-2009 school year, and signed by the principal for
that school year. The Application cannot be completed until after all
TAKS scores and ratings are posted, which will be during the summer of
2009. The teacher is responsible to keep a copy of this signed document
and attach it to the Application, which is due September 1, 2009.
Q – Why does
Writing/Reading/Language Arts and Social Studies require 90%, and
science and math only require 70%?
A – Our current
students testing in Writing, Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies
are already achieving at a high level, while math and science are not as
high. The Committee wanted to set the bar high for each level, yet be
realistic and attainable.
Q – Why is
Reading and Writing not separated at Middle School? Our writing scores
make it much easier for English teachers to be awarded if we don’t
include Reading scores.
A – The Committee
believes teamwork is an important aspect of teaching, and the TEKS are
the same for both subject areas. The District has also had a philosophy
that you must read well to write well and vice versa, and balanced
literacy supports teaching both in all curriculum areas. Combining
Reading and Writing in middle school seems to best support the
District’s current goals and philosophies.
Q – Can a
person teach part of the year and be eligible?
A – A teacher
must be on duty no later than the last Friday in October and continue to
be employed through the last day of duty in the 2008-2009 school year,
or October 31, 2008 through June 5, 2009.
Q – Why are
not more subgroups included besides “Economically Disadvantaged?”
A – Our data has
indicated that it is the Economically Disadvantaged student that is most
at-risk of any of the sub-groups. If the District’s TAKS scores can rise
in this category, it is our belief they will rise in all categories.
Q – With the
understanding that $1000 is the minimum payout for Part 1, what can a
qualified realistically expect to receive in 2009?
A – Looking at
our latest scores, from the TAKS administration in 2007, 192 teachers
would qualify at both the elementary and secondary level, which would
result in a payment of $7,423.41 per teacher. By 2009, it is expected
that our TAKS scores will increase, qualifying more teachers. However,
more teachers qualifying means a lower payment per teacher.
Q – If a
teacher retires, resigns, and/or leaves for any reason after completing
the 2008-2009 school year, will he/she still participate in the award?
A – Yes, any
teacher who is eligible and qualified will participate in the reward for
their contributions during the implementation year. Checks will be
mailed to their forwarding address.
Q – Why are
the Committee members receiving a $500 stipend for simply coming to
meetings?
A – The DATE
Committee spent many hours developing this plan, and will continue to
spend many hours as the plan is implemented. This is just a small token
for their hard work. It is only 2% of the Part 2 Funds, and the District
was allowed to spend up to 5% for administrative costs.
Q – Who is the
DATE Committee?
A – The DATE
Committee is a subcommittee of the District Improvement Committee. The
voting members include three persons from the DIC, plus 16 other
teachers and campus administrators from across the District. Several
central office administrators served as facilitators.
The complete list is
attached.
Q – Why are
Wheeler and Secondary Reassignment Center teachers receiving a stipend?
A – Both schools
do not receive a rating, nor are TAKS scores directly correlated to
those schools. Yet, these teachers do contribute to the overall academic
achievement of the District. So, if the District reaches Recognized or
Exemplary, they will receive a $500 stipend. If the District does not
reach one of those two levels, the money will go into the Group 3 funds
under Part 2.
Q – Most of
the Part 2 money is to be spent on campuses that are either Recognized
or Exemplary? Why not use some of this money to reward teachers in
critical needs areas, teaching on difficult campuses, retention bonuses,
master degreed teachers, etc.?
A – While the
suggestions are all valid, the Committee focused on student achievement.
With a limited amount of money, and $702,011 (33% of the total award)
does not go very far, it was decided to make these funds available to
all certified teachers who help their campuses reach high levels of
achievement. This is an opportunity for teachers in other grades and
subject areas not covered in Part 1 to receive an award.
Q – With the
limited amount of money in Part 2, how much will a teacher receive if
the campus reaches Recognized?
A – Using 2007
Accountability Ratings, 277 teachers would have qualified for an award
of $2,534.33.
Q – Can an
administrator, or central office personnel, ever qualify for the DATE
plan, Parts 1 or 2?
A – No,
administrators are excluded from the DATE plan.
Q – Why are
paraprofessionals not included in the DATE plan? Don’t they work hard
toward increased student achievement?
A – Without a
doubt paraprofessionals are an important group of employees for Irving
ISD that have a significant impact on student learning. However, TEA
excludes everyone but classroom teachers from Part 1. Part 2 could
include paraprofessionals and classified employees, but the amount of
available money would make the award insignificant.
Q – Can a
person receive an award in Part 1 and Part 2?
A – No, if an
employee receives Part 1 funds, they are not eligible for Part 2 funds.
Q.- Which
state assessment scores are included in DATE?
A - The state
assessment scores that will be included in the state accountability
ratings of campuses and districts in 2009 are included in DATE. For
2009, those assessments include TAKS and TAKS-Accommodated for students
in grades 3-11. TAKS-Accommodated will be calculated into TAKS passing
rates in science (grades 5, 8, 10 and 11), social studies (grades 8, 10
and 11), ELA (grade 11) and math (grade 11). In the SSI grades the
results for the first and second administration of reading (grades 3, 5
and 8) and mathematics (grades 5 and 8) will be included.
Q – If I
qualify for an award, will the District take out Federal Withholding
Taxes?
A – Yes, the
Texas Education Agency requires that all deductions apply to the DATE
Award, including Federal Withholding Taxes and Teacher Retirement
deductions.
Q – If I don’t
receive an award, but I think I qualified, how can I appeal?
A – You will
first write a letter to the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel &
Administration outlining the critical elements of your appeal, or why
you think you deserve the award. This letter will be presented to the
DATE Technical Assistance Team for review and a decision. If you still
disagree with the decision of the Technical Assistance Team, you may
file a grievance as governed by Board Policy DGBA (Local)
Q – What if I
have other questions?
A – You can
contact your principal, the DATE Committee member assigned to your
campus, or send a question by email to
DATE@irvingisd.net. You can also
go to the IISD website which contains all the information and relevant
documents.
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