Beginning Teacher Program Earns Grant to Continue Exceptional Work
The district’s highly praised Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP) is possible again next year after winning a highly competitive grant from OSPI. Without the grant, the program would have had to operate with a much smaller budget and only support for first year teachers.
Federal Way Public Schools was one of the school districts in the state to earn the grant, which was awarded to two school districts and three consortiums that submitted the most effective program design among submissions from across the state. This is the second time the grant has been awarded. Federal Way has been a recipient both times.
In 2009-2010, the district received nearly $499,000 from the grant to fund the beginning teacher programs. In 2010-2011, economic conditions necessitated legislature cuts to the state budget and BEST Grant funding was cut 50 percent, which resulted in the net amount of $158,200. This year, the expected grant amount is $194,500, barring a repeat of legislative cuts. Funding is based on the number of teachers in the program.
The state began providing districts with financial support for new teacher programs in 1987. The legislature and OSPI revamped the program in 2009 and changed funding to provide funds only to districts or consortiums that propose a system of robust early-career support that meets Washington State Standards. The grant process required elimination of any information that might identify a district or grant writers, so grantees are chosen based on the quality of their programs without regard to free and reduced lunch statistics, level of funding a school district gets from the state, or other factors.
Why are Programs for Early Educators Important?
“We know that the most influential element in the classroom is the teacher and the more we provide purposeful, individual job-embedded support and appropriate professional development to educators, the more we improve student learning,” said Francine Oishi, who oversees the district’s BTAP program.
National statistics show that 50 percent of teachers leave teaching within their first five years. In Washington State, that rate is only 25 percent, largely because of programs to support beginning teachers, according to research done by the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession.
Districts also have a financial incentive to retain their new teachers. It costs $45,000 to hire a new teacher and get them established in the classroom according to conservative estimates. In addition to creating a financial burden, losing teachers has many negative impacts on a district. It makes it difficult to implement a coherent, multiyear improvement plan. It also makes it difficult for parents and community members to form solid relationships with the school faculty.
What’s Special About Federal Way’s BTAP Program?
BTAP supports early career educators in their first two years of teaching and this year also can support third year teachers who are in a new teaching assignment. The program provides early career teachers with individualized BTAP mentor support from teachers who are trained at the OSPI Mentor Academy. In addition to mentor partnerships, the Beginning Teacher Assistance Program also provides classes specifically for early career teachers, opportunities to observe exemplary teachers, and time to meet with other early career colleagues to problem-solve, share resources, and to support one another.“The classes helped me enormously,” said Truman teacher Cristy Ticeson. “Being in a group of ‘newbies’ helped me realize I was not alone… They put me with a mentor who learned about me, and I learned about him. He was there for me - for any challenge I may have had. His classroom was right next door to me. He would come by and give me encouragement and praise. Something I would not have had without BTAP. The benefits of BTAP are endless, they are still helping.”
Stephanie Simmons, a teacher at Lake Dolloff, said she found support and encouragement at monthly BTAP classes as a first year teacher last year. She looks forward to continuing the program as a second year teacher this year. “I am constantly learning,” she said. “And BTAP will be there to guide me through my foundational years as a teacher.”
Posted: September 29, 2011