The Academy has partnerships with local universities that provide teachers with college credit for some of the training offered. Additionally, the district partners with a local university to provide Professional Development Schools within the district.

Low performing Schools

Program description:

In Hammond, low performing schools tend to be the Title 1 schools. Each of these schools is required to develop an annual plan, and there are discussions at the conclusion of the year relative to progress in meeting the objectives of the plan. At the elementary level, the District provides significant training using outside consultants, in reading and writing, and provides increased professional development supportThe Central Office works as a resource to these schools rather than the evaluator - thus efforts are exerted to support low performing schools, to help them resolve their problems. Also, the district reviews results of the statewide testing and attempts to support and assist those schools that require assistance. All schools in the district have met the "Performance Based Accreditation Standards" which have been established by the state. The Standards established by the state include standards, test scores, attendance, and other criteria. There has been no plan for reconstitution of schools. The district is placed in a "league" of fifty schools by the state. The league has a league standard, and a self identified standard. This year (1998-99) is the first year all schools in the district have achieved beyond the "league mean." (Attachment 11 - Chapter 1 - Introductionre: Indiana Performance Based Accreditation)

Relationship to union:

The overall collaborative relationship between the district and the Union assure that the HTF voice is heard as low performing schools are discussed and plans are developed. There is no formalized written agreement.

Personnel - Transfers

Since the parties do not reconstitute schools or transfer staff, there are no personnel issues related to low performing schools.

Incentives for school improvement - measures to raise student achievement or teacher quality

There is a state incentive program involving the league scores - if the school has improved over the previous year, the state provides incentive funds, based on how much improvement one makes. Incentive funds range from a low of$2,000 up to a maximum of $13,000 per school site.

The contract provides a $2,000 salary additive for teachers who achieve National Board certification.

Peer review:

Program description:

Currently, there is no peer review program. There is an extensive mentoring program for first and second year teachers. The parties have recently redesigned their teacher evaluation system that uses self-assessment as a base

School based management/decisionmaking related to school improvement

Program structure: