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Alaska’s Equitable Access Plan to Excellent Educators

Purpose

Increase equitable access to experienced and effective educators

Situation

In analyzing teacher quality data, there is inequity in Alaska schools in the areas of experience level and level of effectiveness when comparing Title I to non-Title I, high-poverty to low-poverty, and high minority to low minority schools. The inequity is entrenched. New strategies need to be identified and implemented.

Priorities

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) will work with stakeholders to build awareness of the inequitable access to experienced and effective educators and collaborate with stakeholders to identify and implement appropriate strategies to decrease inequity.

Assumptions

By using a variety of strategies, DEED will inform and engage stakeholders.  The development of school and district equity strategies that address their unique challenges and priorities will be grounded in stakeholders’ diverse voices.

External Factors

Success will be dependent on communities, stakeholders, and policy makers’ engagement as well as resource allocation at the school, district, and state levels.

Equity Gap

Inexperienced Teachers

Are almost 2 times more likely to teach Economically Disadvantaged (Low Income) Students

Ineffective Teachers

Are almost 5 times more likely to teach Economically Disadvantaged (Low-Income) Students

Strategies

  • Build awareness of inequity through data sharing, presentation, and website.
  • Complete data analysis to identify districts and schools with the greatest inequity (targeted schools & districts)
  • Develop list of recruitment and retention strategies currently being used in Alaska
  • Work with internal and external partners and policy makers to expand available recruitment and retention resources
  • Provide training and resources to assist targeted districts to work with their communities on the identification and implementation of equity strategies.

Outputs

  • Equity Data
  • Equity Messaging Materials
  • Identified target districts/schools
  • District toolkit for implementing local consultation and identifying resources that can be used to support locally determined equity strategies
  • District budgets that focus available resources to implement equity strategies

Short Term Outcomes

Interim Term Outcomes

Long Term Outcomes

In targeted districts/schools:

  • Increase in understanding of inequity and local goals for equitable access are established
  • Local challenges are identified, and strategies are implemented

In five years, targeted districts and school will have experienced:

  • A 25% decrease in the turnover rates and inexperienced educators
  • A 25% decrease in the percentage of ineffective educators

In ten years:

  • Alaska’s equitable access gaps will have been cut in half
  • The percentage of home-grown educators in the targeted districts/schools will have increased by 100%

Previous Plan

Alaska submitted the Equitable Access to Excellent Educators Plan for Alaska on June 1, 2015.
Alaska’s Equity Plan was revised and resubmitted on October 9, 2015 and approved on October 22, 2015.

Equitable Access to Excellent Educators Plan for Alaska (approved 10/15)

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