South Carolina getting $47 million in federal Teacher Incentive Fund grants program
September 26, 2010
DORCHESTER, BAMBERG, BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC – September 23, 2010 – For the third time in four years, South Carolina’spublic schools are receiving millions of dollars in federal funds tohelp train, reward and support effective teachers and principals inhigh-need and hard-to-staff areas.
The state is among 62 winners of Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grants announced today by U.S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. SouthCarolina’s award of $47,189,299 is the fifth largest for a statewideeducation agency.
The state received an initial TIF grant of $34 million in 2006, the largest given at that time. A second-round award of $7 million went to three Palmetto State school districts in 2007.
The federal government’s five-year $1.2 billion TIF programattracted 96 applications from states, districts and non-profitorganizations throughout the nation. The 62 winners from 27 statesinclude rural and urban school districts as well as non-profits andstate agencies.
Nothing is more important than great teaching. These grants willhelp schools build a culture that celebrates excellence in the classroomand helps all teachers improve their practice, Duncan said. The awardstoday total $442 million for the first two years of funding, withfurther allocations contingent on congressional action.
South Carolina’s grant will build on the existing Teacher Advancement Program that’s been a pilot initiative to recruit and retain quality educators in high-need schools. It has four components:
- Multiple career paths that give teachers a chance to advance their careers while continuing to work directly with students to increase achievement;
- Performance-based accountability, using multiple measures of student and teacher achievement in a fair and rigorous manner;
- Ongoing, applied professional development that helps teachers acquire the skills to address their needs as well as the needs of students; and
- Performance-based compensation that can mean higher pay for teachers and principals based on studentachievement measured using a value-added growth model, as well asinstructional excellence as evaluated by a valid, reliable and rigorousassessment.
The state will use its new TIF funding to work with 1,703 teachersand principals, involving 20,433 students in 42 schools within 12 schooldistricts.
“Through these efforts, we’ll reach the tipping point of movingfrom a pilot project to a full-blown statewide model of reform,” saidState Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. “A performance-basedcompensation system, using value-added measures that are reliable andtransparent, will ultimately affect achievement for all students.
“This will be a reform effort that involves teachers every step ofthe way, starting with their voting to implement the reform andcontinuing with teachers being the main decision-makers about theirindividual developmental needs and unique needs within their classroom,”Rex said. “It will be a reflection of the power teachers hold overtheir professional growth as well as their compensation.”
South Carolina’s TIF grant application earned 108 points inevaluation, the second-highest score among all winners. The highestscore went to the Texas Education Agency at 108.67, good for a $50.1million award.
School districts and schools involved in the TIF project are:
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DISTRICT/SCHOOL NAME
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Pickens
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A R Lewis Elementary
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Simpson Alternative Education Center
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Six Mile Elementary
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Crosswell Elementary
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West End Elementary
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Pickens Elementary
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Hampton 1
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Brunson Elementary
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Laurens 56
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Clinton High
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Eastside Elementary
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Bell Street Middle
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Darlington
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West Hartsville Elementary
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Spaulding Elementary
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Brunson Dargan Elementary
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Thornwell School of the Arts
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Darlington Middle
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Sumter 17
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Chestnut Oaks Middle
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Crosswell Drive Elementary
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Lemeria Elementary
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Edgefield
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Douglas Elementary
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Johnston Elementary
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Strom Thurmond High
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W.E. Parker Elementary
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Johnson-Edgefield-Trenton Middle
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Dorchester 2
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Eagle Nest Elementary
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Summerville Elementary
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Windsor Hill Elementary
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Dorchester 4
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Williams Memorial Elementary
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Bamberg 2
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Denmark-Olar Elementary
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Beaufort County
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Robert Smalls Middle
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Joseph Shanklin Elementary
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Broad River Elementary
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Shell Point Elementary
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James Davis Elementary
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Whale Branch Elementary
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Whale Branch Middle
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Beaufort Middle
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St. Helena Elementary
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Beaufort Elementary
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