Initiative 24C: Effective Practice Partnerships with Replication Schools

Purpose:  As the work of the S3TAIR Project continues to develop, the next phase of the project becomes apparent.  Thirteen replication schools have been identified by NYSED P-12 OSE to engage with model schools awarded through the Initiative 24 site visit process.  The needs in these replication sites coincide with model school programs in one or two of three areas: positive behavior intervention and supports, literacy, and specially designed instruction.  In coordination with the Regional Task Force Liaisons, S3TAIR Regional Field Facilitators, and the Statewide S3TAIR coordinator, this initiative will support the engagement of IHE faculty with participating in these peer mentor partnerships between model schools and replication sites in all 7 Regions on NYS.  Building on a successful two years when 56 visits to potential effective practice schools occurred and when the replication sites were chosen, the purpose of this initiative is to benefit the peer mentor partnerships and to benefit pre-service candidates at participating institutions. Hence, the involvement of student and graduate teachers in the process of the evolving partnership, whenever appropriate, is a priority. 

 

Scope of the Work:  The work of this initiative should be undertaken through a consortium of IHEs in each TF Region.  The work of this initiative may include participating in discussions between the model schools and the replication sites to ascertain the needs of the replication sites, the links between the two schools to be established, the extent of the work undertaken in the partnership, and the structure to facilitate the peer mentor relationship. The work of this initiative will continue during the life of the peer-mentor (school to school) relationship by the consortium IHE's assisting in the development of the relationship, its implementation, its documentation, and its evaluation in whatever ways and at whatever times seem mutually beneficial.  The assistance provided the peer mentor (school to school) relationship from TF member consortia, therefore, can take any number of forms, including, but not limited to:

1.      helping facilitate the relationship between the model school and the replication site;

2.      assisting in data gathering at the replication site;

3.      professional development in support of the identified area(s) of need;

4.      evaluation of the partnerships' outcomes and reporting to personnel involved;

5.      documentation of the partnership building and the facilitation process;

6.      documentation of the effects of the peer mentor relationships on student achievement and/or on teacher behaviors;

7.      development and implementation of action research projects to facilitate the peer mentor relationship;

8.      assisting in capacity building;

9.      encouraging and ensuring the sustainability of the project's changes at the replication sites.

 

The Evaluation of IHE involvement should focus on the success of implementing the IHE's part in assisting/supporting the mentor/replication school relationship.  It is important, therefore, that all consortium activities be completely documented.

 

HESC suggests that, once the peer mentor (school to school) relationship has been established and consortium IHEs have joined the project, a single faculty member from one of the consortium IHEs serves as the lead collaborator for 24C to the region.  This faculty member will be responsible for ensuring that the work is completed as projected, that the evaluation is completed, that the budget is followed, and that the invoices and a final report for the year, 2010-2011, is provided to the Regional Liaison prior to filing the final report on August 15th, 2011.

 

Award: Funds for this initiative will be awarded to regions where Replication schools have been identified and where peer-mentor relationships are developing with Model Schools.  The funds for this initiative should be used to remunerate a consortium of IHEs and not just a single faculty member or IHE.  The funds to support this initiative ($2,000 per partnership) will be allocated to each region as part of an amended subcontract award for 5-8-3C.  The establishment of the consortium of IHEs for each peer mentor relationship, the continued coordination of the project with the S3TAIR Regional Field Facilitators, the local scope of the work to be undertaken, and the evaluation of the consortium's efforts will be each region's responsibility under the leadership of the Regional Liaison and the consortium representative.  Liaisons are strongly encouraged, therefore, to modify and to utilize the Statement of Agreement (Template included), developed in consort with the S3TAIR Regional Field Facilitator to outline the consortium's responsibilities for the partnership and to develop an evaluation focus and plan. All invoices for completed work should be included with the filing of the Region's final report.

 

Budget:  When the peer mentor relationship is established and the consortium joins the partnership, a copy of the Statement of Agreement and any supporting documents should be forwarded to the HESC through Peter Kozik at:

 

New York Higher Education Support Center for SystemsChange
030 Huntington Hall       
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY  13244-2340
Fax: (315)443-4543

 

A copy of the budget for each $2,000 expenditure should accompany this documentation.  Liaisons should include final budget information and invoices regarding this initiative as part of the final report for 5-8-3C due by August 15th, 2011, specifying payments for the work of 24C. 

 

The proposal, i.e. Statement of Agreement, evaluation plan, etc. for the Effective Practice Partnership with Replication School can be submitted once the peer mentor relationship has been established and the consortium of IHEs has joined the project. These documents should be emailed to plkozik@syr.edu.

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statement-of-agreement24c.doc36.5 KB