Topic: The meeting topic was educator recruitment, induction, professional development, and evaluation. The group reviewed summarized data relating to each of these topics. See here for an agenda.
Attendees: The following cities and/or districts sent representatives and/or shared data as part of the meeting. Belchertown, Fitchburg, Bourne, Everett, Springfield, Somerville, Milford, Westfield, Boston, Westborough, Attleboro, Chicopee, Revere, and Wilmington. In addition, representatives from the following State agencies attended: Administration and Finance, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Greater Boston District and School Assistance Center, and the Executive Office of Education. Finally, professors and staff from two universities participated: University of Massachusetts Boston and Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Take aways: Participant feedback and take-aways from the meeting are summarized here. A few of the issues discussed in the meeting were:
- Protocol for Hiring: Participants discussed different strategies for hiring high-performing teachers. A number of people pointed out the lack of a research base used by districts to guide practices in educator recruitment, induction, and retention. These identified best practices could, in turn, result in a suggested protocol for principals.
- Operational Issues and Achievement Gap: In response to a presentation by State researcher Erin Dillon, which showed that first year teachers are more likely to be assigned to teach higher risks students throughout the Commonwealth, participants discussed what factors drive differences in hiring practices between districts that may lead lower-income districts to hire more junior teachers.
- Ed Eval Implementation: Districts discussed the benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of the new Educator Evaluation system. One of the most frequent comments was the need for resources and time to help facilitate the culture change required.
- Research what hiring practices lead to the hiring of the highest performing teachers and develop a recommended protocol.
- Undertake or help facilitate research on why lower-income students have lower SGPs on average and how State, district, or school-level policies may impact those results.
- In collaboration with State partners, support districts as they work to develop DDMs. In particular, investigate the following questions: How should we determine teacher of record? How can we adjust DDMs for populations of students, since lower-income students have lower SGPs on average? How can we measure student performance if there is only one assessment?
- Research models of metrics of school performance. For example, a School StatNet research/practitioner team could look at these questions: What are measures? How do they connect to School Improvement Plans? How do we empower decision makers (e.g. principals)? What are the leverage points for improving schools? How are teachers involved? How can we learn from other models, such as the Chicago Consortium or Wilmington's work?
- Undertake a pilot analysis using longitudinal SIMS data, such as on how grade 3 retentions or PK enrollment impact long-term student performance.
- Work with State officials to share feedback that came out of the Ed Eval discussion, such as ideas on the pace of the roll-out and on the publication of ed eval results.
- Look into feasibility of creating analytical team that helps districts carry out intervention program evaluation (issue raised in meeting #1).
- Work with the State to investigate the demand for and feasibility of creating a statewide Student Information System and to provide advice on Edwin features, including consideration of these requests: one-stop shop for teachers and guidance counselors, five years of data to allow for trend reporting, reporting that allows users to select schools, local assessment data, and more SIMs data.
- Develop analysis on school-related operations topics, such as facilities and energy management.
- Research the feasibility of creating an alternative certification program within MA.
- Convene a meeting of MA districts with SchoolSpring developers to request changes.
