Governor Tim Pawlenty and Education Commissioner Alice Seagren today announced that the Wayzata Public School District will implement Minnesota's nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program.  Wayzata will be the 14th district in the state to participate and will receive $2,550,600 in state aid and local revenues for implementation in the 2006-07 school year.

"I'm pleased that Wayzata's teachers and administration made the decision to pursue Q Comp, our state's nation-leading teacher pay reform," Governor Pawlenty said.  "Under Q Comp, teachers will be paid based on performance, meaningful professional development is provided for staff and rigorous evaluation of instruction is conducted.  The result is teachers who are treated as professionals and improved student achievement."

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 school 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 Wayzata, the district administration and teachers representatives have agreed to the following:

• Career ladders and career advancement opportunities: 
  The career ladder component provides several career advancement opportunities:
• Peer Coach - This position coaches colleagues by modeling best practice strategies, conferencing, observing, evaluating and providing substantive feedback. Evaluations will be done by the peer coaches for all tenured classroom teachers, unless there is an     issue or concern about the performance of the teacher to be evaluated. Teachers will receive additional release days.
• Mentor - This position serves as an instructional leader providing the knowledge, skills and resources needed to improve classroom practice.  Teachers receive a financial stipend and release time.
• Literacy Coach - This position provides building and classroom leadership in reading instructional strategies. Teachers receive release time.
• Content Leader - This position provides district leadership in curriculum, instruction and assessment development and implementation. Teachers receive release time.
• Data Coach - This position provides building leadership for interpreting, analyzing and evaluating student data. Teachers receive a financial stipend and release time.
• Job-embedded professional development: The goal of the job embedded professional development is to improve student achievement on the 2006 MCA reading scores. Teams consisting of ten classroom teachers and four Q Comp support teachers will meet weekly.  
• Performance pay: A teacher's compensation increase will be based on the following:  teacher evaluations determined by receiving a proficient rating in the framework's domains ($1,600); school-wide achievement gains meeting the pre-determined goal levels ($400); and the completion, reflection and implementation of professional development coursework through the Wayzata Professional Development Academy ($800).
• Comprehensive and objective teacher evaluation system: All teachers will be evaluated a total of four times per year. Two of a teacher's evaluations will determine whether or not the teacher receives movement on the salary schedule. The other two evaluations will determine if the teacher receives the performance pay amount tied to evaluations.
• Alternative professional pay schedule: A teacher will not move up on the salary schedule or receive performance pay unless they successfully meet the teacher evaluation and student achievement goals called performance increments.  The performance increments will replace the "steps" in the traditional salary schedule. 
   

"The process our district utilized in developing our new approach to teacher compensation was very collaborative.  The degree of trust demonstrated throughout the process led to a quality product, as well as a very satisfying experience for everyone involved," Wayzata Superintendent Bob Ostlund said. "We are excited about the professional development and career enrichment opportunities the program will offer Wayzata teachers in support of their commitment to the educational success of our students."

Wayzata Public School District includes seven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. They serve 9,694 students in grades K-12 and 662 students in pre-school, and have 630 teaching faculty.

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 and Wayzata 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.