Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that the Osseo Public School District will implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. Osseo will be the 19th district in the state to participate and will receive $5.67 million in state aid and local revenues for implementation in the 2006-07 school year.

“Q Comp focuses on providing professional development for teachers which will in turn increase student achievement,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Like most other careers, this program will pay teachers based on performance and will reward quality teaching to help keep good teachers in the classroom. I commend the Osseo school district, school board and its teachers for pursuing this important and meaningful education reform.”

Last year, Governor Pawlenty proposed and the state legislature approved Minnesota’s Q Comp program. Q Comp provides up to $86 million for districts that join the program.

Q Comp is designed to advance the teaching profession by providing structured professional development and evaluation, as well as an alternative pay schedule that compensates teachers based on performance. The program brings together career advancement, professional development and compensation linked to academic achievement. It includes a locally agreed upon peer evaluation process for every teacher that is based on skills, responsibilities and student academic growth. This plan is voluntary and will add another $260 per student in participating districts.

The Q Comp program gives participating school districts the flexibility to meet local needs within a comprehensive model of improved teaching and learning. In Osseo, the district administration and teachers representatives have agreed to the following:

• Career ladder and career advancement opportunities: The career ladder includes five positions, which provides several career advancement opportunities. These positions are:

o Instructional Coach – Primary function is to evaluate teachers, provide leadership, resources and support to teachers and enhance their professional growth and student achievement. This is a contracted position; salary will be determined per terms and conditions.
o Elementary Team Leader – Primary function is to provide leadership and coordination in grade-level areas and advise the building principal. This is a contracted position with a stipend determined by number of staff on the team.
o Secondary Site Department Leader – Primary function is to provide leadership, coordination and innovation in assigned curricular area so that each student may derive maximum benefit from the continuing pursuit of the subject involved. This is a contracted position with a stipend determined by number of staff on the team.
o District Curriculum Specialist – Primary function is to facilitate and coordinate program development and/or improvements for the program area(s) assigned and provide professional development related to curriculum and instruction. This position will have an extended contract and will receive a stipend.
o Instructional Coach Facilitator – Primary function is to provide training to instructional coaches and maintain on-going dialogue and support, to provide feedback to instructional coaches on Q Comp and student learning goals and to engage in classroom instruction as appropriate. This is a contracted position; salary will be determined per terms and conditions.

• Job-embedded professional development: The goal for the Osseo School District is to show student growth in the areas of reading and math as measured by their performance in reading and math on the MCA assessments and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) tests, comparing the results of the 2005-06 school to the 2006-07 test scores. Each school site has a separate goal aligned to the district goal. Each of the sites will have specifically designed teams that will meet at various times and for varied lengths of time to work on ensuring the goals are met.
• Performance pay: 80 percent of a teacher’s compensation will be directly linked to teacher performance and based on the professional growth plan. 10 percent will be linked to student learning goals and student achievement gains based on teachers providing evidence of individual student learning. The last 10 percent will be linked to site gains for all teachers. This is based on tests such as NWEA and MCA assessments.
• Comprehensive and objective teacher evaluation system: Each educator will receive a minimum of three evaluations each year. These will be completed by instructional coaches and/or building principals. Professional growth/student learning goals and site goals are awarded as a stipend provided the teacher and site have achieved the goals outlined at the beginning of the school year.
• Alternative professional pay schedule: Additional compensation will be incorporated as professional performance requirements that are outlined in the performance pay plan.

“Every child wins with this plan,” Osseo Superintendent Susan Hintz said. “The Osseo Q Comp plan will create communities of teachers that will focus their energy on common goals and the improvement of student learning. Given resources and the opportunity to collaborate and share their virtuosities, our teachers will accomplish great things for kids.”

Osseo Public Schools has nearly 22,000 students enrolled in K-12 programs. The district has nineteen elementary schools (K-6), four junior highs (7-9), three senior highs (10-12), and an area learning center. The school district employs about 1,600 teaching staff and 3,300 total employees.

Minneapolis, Hopkins, St. Francis, Mounds View, St. Cloud, Alexandria, Fridley, La Crescent-Hokah and Marshall started implementing the Q Comp program during the 2005-06 school year. Grand Meadow, Albert Lea, Alden-Conger, Brainerd, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, Red Rock Central, International Falls, St. Louis Park and Osseo school districts will begin implementing during the 2006-07 school year. Approximately 134 school districts have indicated to the Department of Education they are planning to submit an application for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.