Section 65.150  Criteria for the Review of Initial Applications

Applications for initial funding shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in this Section.  When considering substantially equal proposals, the State Superintendent of Education shall give preference to programs that will take place in hard-to-staff schools, i.e., Illinois public schools that rank in the upper third among public schools of their type (e.g., elementary, middle, secondary) in terms of the rate of attrition among teachers.

a)         Program Design (45 points)

1)         The proposal identifies specific practices and policies such as reduced course load for mentors, release time, and access to resources that will permit the participants in the program to devote the necessary time to induction and mentoring.

2)         The proposal describes plans for timely orientation of the new teachers to the induction program and for a formal network of the novice colleagues that will provide them with ongoing learning opportunities and support.

3)         The proposal clearly articulates methods for collecting evidence related to the new teachers' practice and describes how that information will be used in planning for professional development and other support for the new teachers.

4)         The proposal includes specific plans for incorporating issues of pedagogy, classroom management, and content knowledge into professional development for the new teachers and for ensuring alignment of this material with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, the participants' specific identified needs, and local instructional priorities.

5)         The proposal presents coherent allocation and scheduling of the participants' time and is cost-effective in light of the level of resources requested and the number of new teachers to be served.

b)         Mentor Recruitment and Support (25 points)

1)         The proposal describes a comprehensive strategy for recruiting experienced teachers who are suited to the role of mentors, including:

A)        the involvement of parties with an interest in teacher quality and retention;

B)        thorough outreach and communication regarding the availability of positions for mentors;

C)        clear criteria for the skills and experience sought; and

D)        consideration of multiple sources of information in identifying the candidates to be selected.

2)         The proposal provides for formal orientation of the mentors selected, for fundamental training of these individuals at the beginning of the program, and for professional development during the course of the program that is designed to strengthen their ability to employ mentoring tools, protocols, and formative assessment in response to the needs of beginning teachers.

3)         The proposal describes a systematic approach to establishing a "community of mentoring practice" that will enable the participating mentors to share experiences and strategies and support each other's work within the induction program.

c)         Evaluation Design (20 points)

1)         The proposal identifies information to be collected and reported on the performance and retention of new teachers that will add to an understanding of the effects of more intensive induction programs as compared to the results of more typical models.

2)         The proposal suggests how the effects of particular initiatives or components of the program will be measured.

3)         The applicant proposes a method for tracking the continued service of the teachers served after the project ends so that longitudinal data can be compiled.

d)         Leadership and Direction (10 points)

1)         The proposal demonstrates that the individuals who will direct or coordinate the induction program have experience in this endeavor or a commitment to it, as evidenced by their history of involvement or professional development.

2)         The management structure described is appropriate to the scope and complexity of the program, the specific responsibilities of the on-site administrator are evident, and the roles and contributions of collaborating entities, if any, are clearly delineated.

3)         The proposal includes strategies that will be used in providing oversight for the program to permit ongoing analysis of its effectiveness, necessary programmatic modifications, integration of various relevant professional development plans, and communication structures that respect the need for confidentiality when applicable.