Race to the Top

Teacher and Principal Evaluations

1. Are the names and affiliations of the Task Force on Teacher and Principal Evaluation available to the public?
2. If the required 40 percent student achievement ratio is currently not part of our Teacher and Principal Evaluation system - must it be included in our evaluation system to receive RTTT funds?
3. What types of locally selected assessments can districts use in the rating systems for the Teacher and Principal Evaluation system?
4. Will districts be provided with prescriptive guidance on the 60 percent of the Teacher and Principal Evaluation that is not based on student performance?
5. Should districts move forward on thinking about how to design their evaluation system within that the remaining 60 percent of evaluations that is not attributed to student achievement?
6. If a charter school does not accept the RTTT money, does it have to comply with Education Law 3012-c?
7. Can a charter school spend its entire RTTT allocation on professional development activities over the four year grant period if it has met all of the requirements for Network Teams and the Teacher and Principal Evaluation system?
8. Can charter schools base more than 40% of their teacher and principal evaluations on student academic achievement?
9. What kind of certification or narrative is needed to assure that NYSED will approve our Teacher and Principal Evaluation system? How does the process work?
10. If a district does not accept RTTT funds, and that district has collective bargaining agreements with teachers and principals through June 30, 2013, must that district start a Teacher and Principal Evaluation system starting July 1, 2011?
11. The deadline for submission of the Final Scope of Work is November 8, 2010. Is it necessary to complete Section D of the Final Scope of Work by November 8 since no certification regarding the evaluation system has yet been made and Section D funds will not be available until the 2011-2012 school year?

Network Teams

• Network Team Definition, Composition, and Training
  1. What is a Network Team?
  2. When must Network Teams be in place?
  3. What is the ultimate objective of a Network Team?
  4. Are Network Teams a requirement of RTTT?
  5. Are all school districts required to have a Network Team?
  6. Can districts develop their own Network Team?
  7. Are charter schools required to have a BOCES Network Team?
  8. Who/How/When will the Network Team Equivalents be approved and certified?
  9. The Regional Special Education–Technical Assistance Centers (RSE-TASCs) and related staff hired through IDEA funded State contracts with BOCES and the large cities serve very similar functions to those described for the Network Teams as they might impact students with disabilities. Can these teams serve as Network Team Equivalents? If not, what would be the relationship between the Network Teams and the RSE-TASCs?
  10. What the role of the principal in a Network Team Equivalent?
  11. Can an existing teacher and/or retired LEA employee serve as part of a Network Team?
  12. Must Network Team or NTE staff be certified administrators?
  13. Can a network team be blended between a BOCES and a district?
  14. What is the difference between a Network Team supported through BOCES and a BOCES managed equivalent team?
  15. Will there be local accountability and oversight for Network Teams that are not under the supervision of a BOCES?

• Network Team Deliverables and Reports

  1. What are the specific Network Team deliverables by school year?
  2. If a district participates in a BOCES Network Team, which entity is responsible for reporting information to NYSED on the effectiveness of the Network Team?
  3. Are professional development activities and evaluation tools required for Network Teams?
  4. How will NYSED identify vendors for the delivery of professional development to the Network Teams?

• Network Team Funding

  1. What percentage of RTTT funding must be dedicated to the Network Teams?
  2. If the funds from the districts' RTTT allocations do not cover the costs of a three person network team, how flexible can the BOCES be in providing the services? Will districts be required to pay for the costs out of general fund monies?
  3. Can BOCES be “participating LEAs” for the purpose of funding under RTTT?
  4. Can the 15% that is able to be spent prior to July 1, 2011 be used to hire and train a Network Team at a BOCES based on the districts that opt for the BOCES Network Team?
  5. If districts collaborate through their local BOCES for Network Team services, will these costs be BOCES aidable?
  6. Does 100 % of the Network Team need to be purchased? For example, if a school district has a 1.0 FTE curriculum expert, is it permissible to only purchase the support for instruction and data from the BOCES?
  7. Are public charter schools required to establish a Network Team, and if so, can this service be purchased from a BOCES?
  8. Can a small group of four charter schools work together to contract services through other means? Being that the NTE would not be working with 25 schools, can one assume that the team does not have to consist of three FTEs?
  9. If my BOCES or school district can demonstrate that its existing system provides services equivalent to those of an RTTT Network Team, how can I spend my RTTT allocation?
  10. Page 7 of the guidance document appears to contradict a statement made earlier regarding the use of RTTT funds to pay a pro rata share of salaries for existing in-house administrators who would make up the NTE.

• Scope of Work Provisions and RTTT Participation

  1. If a school district did not apply or is not eligible for RTTT funds, is it required to have Network/Inquiry Teams?
  2. If an LEA chooses not to submit a Final Scope of Work, is it legally obligated to establish or participate in a Network Team?

Charter Schools

1. How does a charter school become a participating LEA?
2. We did not send in an MOU in May; can we still submit one if we are interested in being a participating LEA?
3. My school chose not to file an “intent to submit” and the Final Scope of Work document. Can we apply for the supplemental RTTT funding programs that the Department will make available over the next four years?
4. Are charter schools required to have a BOCES Network Team?
5. Are public charter schools required to establish a Network Team, and if so, can this service be purchased from a BOCES?
6. Can a small group of four charter schools work together to contract services through other means? Being that the NTE would not be working with 25 schools, can one assume that the team does not have to consist of three FTEs?
7. If a charter school does not accept the RTTT money, does it have to comply with Education Law 3012-c?
8. Can charter schools base more than 40% of their teacher and principal evaluations on student academic achievement?
9. Does 25% of the teacher and leader evaluation have to be based on student growth?
10. Does a school have to use the eight evaluation criteria to measure the balance of teacher effectiveness as defined in the APPR regulations?
11. How much of my school’s allocation must be targeted towards the teacher and leader support and evaluation system?
12. If I don’t apply for Race to the Top funding, will my school still have to enter additional data into the improved State data systems?
13. If a charter school does not apply for Race to the Top funds, does it still have to follow the Common Core State Standards?
14. Will charter schools be required to use the State-developed curricula and curriculum-embedded formative assessments?
15. Can a charter school spend its entire RTTT allocation on professional development activities over the four year grant period if it has met all of the requirements for Network Teams and the Teacher and Principal Evaluation system?

Final Scope of Work Statements

• What is the time line for a participating LEA to submit its Final Scope of Work statement in order to receive its RTTT subgrant allocations?
• Should a participating LEA expect to receive its entire RTTT LEA subgrant in a lump sum once its Final Scope of Work has been approved
• My district is a participating LEA. What will we be required to do in the Final Scope of Work? Are there any restrictions on the allowable uses of these funds?
• Whose signature is required on the Final Scope of Work? Will additional signatures and/or assurances be required at a later date?

General

• How can I get additional questions answered?

LEA Subgrant Allocations

• How are the RTTT LEA subgrant allocations calculated?
• Should a participating LEA expect to receive its entire RTTT LEA subgrant in a lump sum once its Final Scope of Work has been approved?
• What percentage or amount of my RTTT LEA subgrant can I access immediately?
• Will each participating LEA's relative share be based on the regular fiscal year (FY) 2009 appropriation only or based on both the regular 2009 appropriation and the ARRA Title I allocations?
• Will RTTT LEA subgrant allocations awarded in 2010 be adjusted in subsequent years of the grant due to changes in LEAs' relative share of the Title I, Part A annual allocations?
• Will LEAs receive this allocation each year for the four years of the grant?
• Can a public charter school opening for the first time in September 2010, or after, become a participating LEA and receive funding under the subgrant allocations?
• Can a school district that did not receive Title I, Part A funds in FY 2009 become a participating LEA and receive funding under the 50% subgrant allocations?
• Can a Special Act school district that did not receive Title I, Part A funds in FY 2009 become a participating LEA and receive funding under the subgrant allocations?
• If the State adds new participating LEAs before October 18, 2010, what is the impact on my LEA's preliminary subgrant allocation?
• If a participating LEA included in the State's RTTT application chooses to withdraw, what is the impact on my LEA's preliminary subgrant allocation?
• If a public charter school or school district which is a participating LEA that received Title I, Part A funds in FY 2009 closes during the four-year grant period, what happens to its subgrant allocation?
• What must a participating LEA do to receive its share of the local subgrant allocation?
• My district is a participating LEA. What will we be required to do in the Final Scope of Work? Are there any restrictions on the allowable uses of these funds?
• My BOCES or school district has an existing professional development infrastructure similar to an RTTT Network Team. Does my BOCES or school district have to create a new team that I have to help pay for with my RTTT allocation?
• If my BOCES or school district can demonstrate that its existing system provides services equivalent to those of an RTTT Network Team, how can I spend my RTTT allocation?
• If my district is required to purchase the services of an RTTT Network Team and has RTTT funds left over after doing so, how can we spend the rest of our RTTT allocation?
• How long do LEAs have to spend these funds? And, when does the clock start on this timeframe?
• Are there any rules regarding when, within the four years of the grant period, my LEA must spend its allocation?
• What are the reporting requirements related to the RTTT funds provided to LEAs?
• If my LEA did not get Title I, Part A funding in FY 2009, how are we able to participate?
• The State’s RTTT plan relies heavily on recently enacted legislation requiring a new statewide system for teacher and principal evaluations. What will an LEA be required to do to in relation to this system for purposes of RTTT funding?

Network Teams

• The State's RTTT application describes a role for Network Teams. What are they? Are participating LEAs required to use them?
• My public charter school is a participating LEA. Is our charter school required to establish, participate in and/or purchase services from a Network Team?
• My BOCES or school district has an existing professional development infrastructure similar to an RTTT Network Team. Does my BOCES or school district have to create a new team that I have to help pay for with my RTTT allocation?
• If my BOCES or school district can demonstrate that its existing system provides services equivalent to those of an RTTT Network Team, how can I spend my RTTT allocation?
• If my district is required to purchase the services of an RTTT Network Team and has RTTT funds left over after doing so, how can we spend the rest of our RTTT allocation?

Rules for Becoming a Participating LEA

• Can a district or public charter school still become a "participating LEA" if they did not sign an MOU in May 2010 that was submitted as part of New York’s Round 2 RTTT application?
• Can a public charter school opening for the first time in September 2010, or after, become a participating LEA and receive funding under the subgrant allocations?
• Can a school district that did not receive Title I, Part A funds in FY 2009 become a participating LEA and receive funding under the 50% subgrant allocations?
• Can a Special Act school district that did not receive Title I, Part A funds in FY 2009 become a participating LEA and receive funding under the subgrant allocations?

Teacher and Principal Evaluations

• The State’s RTTT plan relies heavily on recently enacted legislation requiring a new statewide system for teacher and principal evaluations. What will an LEA be required to do to in relation to this system for purposes of RTTT funding?
• The new law mentions an advisory committee. Who will be on the committee and what will they be doing?