Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that the International Falls Public School District will implement Minnesota's nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program.  International Falls will be the 17th district in the state to participate and will receive $348,400 in state aid and local revenues for implementation in the 2006-07 school year.

"This program is about fairly compensating teachers for good work and student achievement, not just seniority," Governor Pawlenty said.  "Q Comp rewards quality teaching and will help keep good teachers in the classroom by paying them in a more professional way.  I applaud the International Falls school district, school board and its teachers for pursuing this important and meaningful education reform."

Last year, Governor Pawlenty proposed and the state legislature approved Minnesota's Q Comp program.  Q Comp provides up to $86 million for districts that join the program over the next two years.

Q Comp is designed to advance the teaching profession by providing structured professional development and evaluation, as well as an alternative pay schedule that compensates teachers based on performance. The program brings together career advancement, professional development and compensation linked to academic achievement. It includes a locally agreed upon peer evaluation process for every teacher that is based on skills, responsibilities and student academic growth. This plan is voluntary and will add another $260 per student in participating districts.

The Q Comp program gives participating school districts the flexibility to meet local needs within a comprehensive model of improved teaching and learning. In International Falls, the district administration and teachers representatives have agreed to the following:

Career ladder and career advancement opportunities: The career ladder includes five positions, which require the lead teachers to maintain a primary role as a teacher with additional duties and compensations.   These positions are:
Mentor - Provides mentor services for chosen mentee in subject area, have weekly contact with assigned teacher, attend and assist in facilitating mentor group meetings, and compile a portfolio.  This position will provide mentors a $1,500 stipend for
      successfully completing all of their responsibilities. 

Learning Team Leader - Facilitates Learning Team meetings, evaluates progress made by other Learning Team members, recommends site goals to the Quality Oversight Team, and has a great focus and responsibility on professional development.  This position provides a $1,500 stipend. 
Learning Content Leader - Responsible for acquiring materials, best practice research, and specific content to be used by Learning Team members as they develop means to improve student achievement.  This position provides a $1,500 stipend. 
Professional Development Team Member - Attends all building and district professional development meetings and critiques applications to make sure site goals are being worked towards as well as managing the money allotted for staff development.  This position provides a $1,500 stipend.  
Quality Oversight Team Member - Responsible for attending all weekly and special meetings of the Quality Oversight Team.  This includes resolving Q Comp issues, overseeing expenditures, having final authority on site goal achievement, and coordinating professional development.  This position provides a $1,500 stipend. 
Job-embedded professional development: The goal for the International Falls schools is to improve student achievement in math as measured by the state MCA assessments.  To meet this goal teams will meet one hour per week. 
Performance pay: 80 percent of a teacher's compensation will be directly linked to teacher performance while 20 percent will be directly linked to student achievement and school-wide gains using the MCA assessments and teacher evaluation scores. 
Comprehensive and objective teacher evaluation system: Each educator will receive three formal evaluations each year.  Two will be completed by peers and one by the building administrator. 
Alternative professional pay schedule: Additional compensation will be incorporated in the salary schedule for teachers that provide service to the district and who have demonstrated the professional performance requirements outlined in the performance pay.
 

"Governor Pawlenty's Q Comp initiative recognizes critical topics that must be addressed if public education in Minnesota is to meet its obligation to our citizens. International Falls Public Schools looks at the Governor's vision as a requirement for us to focus on how we are to work together as professional educators to enhance student educational opportunity, increase student academic performance, and recognize the need to assess traditional compensation models," International Falls Superintendent Don Langan said.  "Our Q Comp project emphasized creating a collaborative professional model that promotes and requires the faculty and staff to collectively recognize each professional's contribution to the goal of increasing student achievement."

International Falls Public Schools has 1,318 students enrolled in K-12 programs.  The school district operates a single campus containing Falls Elementary with grades K, 3-6; Falls High School with grades 7-12, and West End Elementary that occupies a wing of Falls High School with grades 1 and 2.  The school district employs 168 full time and part-time licensed and non-licensed staff.

Minneapolis, Hopkins, St. Francis, Mounds View, St. Cloud, Alexandria, Fridley, La Crescent-Hokah and Marshall started implementing the Q Comp program during the 2005-06 school year. Grand Meadow, Albert Lea, Alden-Conger, Brainerd, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, Red Rock Central and International Falls school districts will begin implementing during the 2006-07 school year.  Approximately 134 school districts have indicated to the Department of Education they are planning to submit an application for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.