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Operating Budget → Fiscal Year 2015  → Budget Brief: Investing in Teacher Leadership and Training

Investing in Teacher Leadership and Training

 
 
 
 

The Montgomery County Board of Education has recommended a $2.3 billion Operating Budget for next school year (2014–2015). The budget is a 4 percent increase over this year's budget and is just 2.5 percent above the minimum funding level required by state law. This budget will allow MCPS to continue to provide all students with access to a world-class education while managing its enrollment growth. The budget also invests strategically in key areas that will allow MCPS to narrow the achievement gap and prepare students to thrive in their future.

One area of strategic investment is teacher leadership, including the new Career Lattice, a program that will encourage highly effective, veteran teachers to stay in or move to high-needs schools.  

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THE NEED

Montgomery County Public Schools has some of the best teachers in the nation and they are an integral part of what makes MCPS such a great system. We want to give our most effective, veteran teachers the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills outside of their own classrooms.

We also want our schools to benefit from the instructional leadership of our best teachers. This is especially true in our schools that are most impacted by poverty and have some of the largest achievement gaps in the district.

THE PLAN

The Board's budget request includes $800,000 to implement the “Career Lattice” program, which was designed in collaboration with the Montgomery County Education Association, and gives educators the chance to apply to achieve “lead teacher” status.

Under the Career Lattice, teachers who have achieved lead teacher status will be provided with a $2,000 salary incentive to take on a school-based leadership position in designated high-needs schools. This accounts for $500,000 of the Board's budget request.

The remaining $300,000 will be used for innovation grants of up to $3,000 each that lead teachers can apply for and use to fund projects or programs, with a specific emphasis on closing the achievement gap.

The Board's budget request also includes $1.95 million to provide increased opportunities for elementary and secondary school-based leaders—such as resource and staff development teachers — to collaborate, coach, and mentor.

GET INFORMED, STAY ENGAGED

The budget is now in the hands of the Montgomery County Executive and the Montgomery County Council.

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