Initiatives Chalkboard Project

1 initiatives

1.1 class project
1.2 open books project
1.3 mentoringeducators.org
1.4 school business practice reviews
1.5 achievement gap work

initiatives

according statesman journal, chalkboard project has emerged trusted voice on education reform in oregon... supporting effective, research-based strategies; honoring oregonians passion public involvement; , respecting local decision-making.

chalkboard began focus on 3 main areas of education: 1) teacher effectiveness 2) accountability , finance 3) student success. in 2009, chalkboard project shifted focus concentrate on teacher effectiveness. focusing on teacher effectiveness through class project, chalkboard felt make biggest impact on student achievement in oregon.

class project

the class (creative leadership achieves student success) project, chalkboard s largest initiative date, includes 12 oregon school districts , engages in work strengthen educator effectiveness , raise student achievement.

class focus on 4 components of effective teaching: expanded career paths, relevant professional development, effective performance evaluations , new compensation models. each district participating in class project designs components meet needs of staff, students, , community.

in central oregon districts’ grant proposal, grant writer bruce abernethy highlighted districts’ development of professional learning communities, in teams of teachers visit 1 another’s classrooms observe lessons , provide constructive criticism. .

class school districts include original 3 districts began implementation of project in 2007, forest grove, sherwood , tillamook. in addition, additional 9 school districts awarded planning grants in 2009 including: salem-keizer, bend-lapine, redmond, sisters, crook county, high desert esd, lebanon, oregon city , vernonia.

open books project

the chalkboard project s open books website features student achievement , demographic data, in addition updated financial information.

open books launched in 2006 residents learn how local school districts spending tax money.

mentoringeducators.org

in 2007, oregon launched beginning teacher , administrator mentor program supports 1,000 new educators in crucial stage of careers providing them experienced educator mentor.

the chalkboard project, in partnership oregon department of education (ode), created website, mentoringeducators.org provide information , resources beginning , experienced educators, policy makers, , general public. mentoringeducators.org hub oregonians can find overview of mentor program, list of participants , program locations, mentoring calendar, general educator resources, research , more.

school business practice reviews

in summer of 2007, chalkboard project , oregon association of school business officials (oasbo) joined forces launch pilot project reviewing business operations practices in 6 oregon school districts. goal: develop set of “best practices” can shared districts throughout state.

school districts involved: salem-keizer, eugene, greater albany, beaverton, harney county, , yoncalla.

chalkboard leaders want program expand, either fee-for-service or through state funding alternative secretary of state reviews offered. chalkboard funded 6 district reviews, totaling $105,000.

achievement gap work

in february 2009, chalkboard project, in partnership black parent initiative , econorthwest, conducted study analyzing black-white achievement gap in multnomah county. report found although achievement gap not widen 3rd 10th grade, black students enter third grade 1.5 grades behind white students , gap not narrow.

in summer of 2009 chalkboard partnered once again econorthwest study hispanic-white achievement gap in oregon. report, based findings on data oregon department of education, shows , persistent gap between achievement of hispanic students , of white peers. gap appears time students have reached 3rd grade , remains consistent throughout school careers. other conclusions of report were: esl (english second language) programs may accelerate student learning , oregon s hispanic student population faces significant barriers academic success.