Far East Contra Costa County

Far East Contra Costa County BTSA Induction Program Brentwood, Byron, Knightsen, Liberty, and Oakley School Districts 255 Guthrie Lane, Brentwood, CA 94513

May 26, 2009

Byron Union School District 14301 Byron Highway Byron, CA 94514

Dear District Partners,

The Far East Contra Costa County BTSA Induction program began as a consortium to better serve beginning teachers in our rapidly growing area in 2000. In 2003, the passage of AB2042 redefined credentialing options in California. Our consortium re-wrote its program to meet the requirements of AB2042 and was approved as an Induction Program, thus becoming authorized to clear credentials for teachers. As of July, 2009, the options for clearing credentials in the State of California will again change. Induction programs across the state will become accredited by the Committee on Accreditation under the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This is currently the only option for teachers with Preliminary Credentials to clear their credentials.

Recent budget decisions regarding categorical funding placed BTSA funding into Tier 3. This allows for flexibility of use of funds and establishes the funding received in 2008-2009 as the base funding amount for the consortium through 2013. Prior to flexibility being applied, funding was generated each year by the number of participating teachers in the program. This poses opportunities and challenges to maintaining the role of this program.

The Far East Contra Costa County BTSA Induction program is committed to providing a pathway for teacher credentials. Program Coordinators from each district of the consortium met on April 20, 2009 to examine the changes in requirements from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and budget flexibility, which was still being determined by the state at that time. Because of the critical role of the consortium to provide a pathway for credentials for member districts, it was determined that the BTSA Induction program needed to continue to serve participating teachers of the member districts in order for them to meet the requirements for a clear credential.

During the discussion, several critical points were identified to guide the planning for the BTSA Induction program under the change of funding model: 1. The obligation of the consortium is to provide the essential components of the program for all eligible participating teachers so that districts can retain newly hired teachers each year. . As will be true throughout the state, the flat amount to be received each year could be to the detriment if the number of participating teachers grows each year, or an immediate benefit if the number declines. . Although base funding was built on the number of participating teachers in 2008-2009, that amount is to serve the needs of the participating teachers each year. . Maintaining a funding format that is based on participating teachers allows us to continue to provide the services participants need to fulfill their credential requirements. 2. The responsibilities for the essential components of the program between district and consortium personnel need to shift. . Decrease in number of participating teachers in some districts and growth in others will redefine how the services of this program are met in the consortium and in each district. . Consolidation of responsibilities by the consortium will allow districts with reduced number of participating teachers, and thus reduced funding, to reduce their responsibility for services accordingly

Charts on the next page visually describe the changes in funding and district/consortium responsibilities as they impact the work of the Far East Contra Costa County BSTA Induction program. Shift of Responsibilities between District and Consortium for Essential Components of the Program Through 2008-09 Beginning 2009-10 District Responsibilities Mentor stipend or release time District Responsibilities Release time for Mentor to observe Funding: Funding: BTSA Allotment (pass- BTSA Allotment (pass- through) Release time for Participants to through) $2000 per Participating Teacher $1450 per Participating Teacher observe District In-Kind Funding District In-Kind Funding $2000 per Participating Teacher $2000 per Participating Teacher* District Liaison to Consortium Consortium Formative Assessment Materials Responsibilities Mentor Training costs Funding: Professional Development services BTSA Allotment Consortium Program Leadership Responsibilities Mentor Training Communication with Partners, IHE, Funding: all stakeholders BTSA Allotment Record keeping (state credential filing)

*District In-Kind funding no longer required with Categorical Flexibility In light of in-kind district contributions no longer being required and the decline in number of participating teachers, essential program components required for teachers to be recommended for a credential would be difficult for districts to maintain, thus a shift of responsibilities from individual districts to consortium level was made by BTSA leadership team representing all districts at April 20, 2009 meeting.

Participating Teachers Served by FECCC BTSA Consortium 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 Estimated Total Pass District (projected) Through Funding for 2009-2010 (x$1450/PT) Brentwood 55 36 16 $23,200 Byron 16 9 1 $1,450 Knightsen 6 3 0 0 Liberty 29 32 44 $63,800 Oakley 24 17 4 $5,800

Consortium total 131 97 65

The budget to support the BTSA program includes cost of the essential components designated as consortium and district responsibilities. Under the model of shared consortium/district responsibilities prior to 2009-2010, the consortium targeted $2000 pass through to districts. The shift of responsibilities outlined above changes the pass through amount to $1450 per participating teacher, which is the budget amount needed to meet the essential components that are district responsibilities (Mentor stipends and release time). BTSA funds received will be budgeted for expenses which have been cut to only the most essential services required for the credentialing process. District budgets will be determined by the number of eligible 2009-2010 Participating Teachers as outlined on chart above. Because the flat allotment for BTSA is expected to be based on 2008-2009 funding level, decisions about potential funding beyond the service to 2009-2010 participating teachers will be reviewed and determined when actual number of new teachers and funding levels are known. This is anticipated to be known by mid-August when Coordinators from all participating districts will meet.

While the expectation is still in place that teachers are able to meet credentialing requirements, the designation of BTSA as Tier 3 categorical flexibility allows districts to use local decision to determine the use of pass through and in-kind funds. Expenditure reports for 2008-2009 and budgets for 2009-2010 will not be required from district partners. Districts total allotment for 2008-2009, including carryover, is currently available to partner districts with amounts based on the February 17, 2009 letter.

Please contact me or your District Coordinator, Ken Jacopetti, if you have further questions or would like to meet.

Sincerely,

Karen Neilson, Director

Cc: District Coordinators, Superintendents, Chief Business Officials