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Kaptur Announces Over $10 Million for Toledo Public Schools
Toledo, OH - Today,
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), released the following
statement announcing that Toledo Public Schools (TPS) has
been awarded $10,376,904 in federal funding over three years
to improve pay structures, recruit and retain great
teachers, and provide greater professional opportunities to
educators. The funding was awarded through a competitive
grant application through the Department of Education's
Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program, of which Kaptur wrote
a letter of support.
"I am honored to announce
that Toledo Public Schools has been awarded over $10 million
to invest in the recruitment, retention, and training of
their teachers," said Rep. Kaptur. "As our country continues
to adapt to life during the coronavirus pandemic, our
teachers have stepped up every step of the way, often
without the appreciation or compensation they deserve. This
funding will help train, recruit, and retain hard working
teachers in our Toledo community and increase achievement
among our diverse student population. I am thankful every
day for our Toledo Public School teachers."
"On behalf of the
administration and the board of education, we are grateful
to learn that Toledo Public Schools has been awarded TIF
funding for the next three years," said Dr. Romules Durant,
CEO/Superintendent of Toledo Public Schools. "As outlined in
our proposal, these funds will be used to invest and improve
all parts of the district's Human Capital Management System.
PROUD focuses on a district-wide initiative to attract a
more diverse staff to meet the needs of our ever-changing
student population. Plans range from redesigning the
district's hiring process to working with local universities
and students enrolled in education programs. We feel it is
imperative for student teachers to gain hands-on classroom
experience so they understand the demands of working in an
urban school district."
The purpose of the Teacher
Incentive Fund is to increase teacher and principal
effectiveness by awarding grants to LEAs, SEAs, or
partnerships for the purpose of creating a performance-based
compensation system for teachers and principals. Toledo
Public Schools is the fourth largest district in Ohio
serving over 22,000 students. Toledo Public Schools applied
for the grant as a single applicant, and it hasn't had an
active grant under TSL in the past five years.
In 2013 TPS hired a new
Superintendent who subsequently engaged staff and the
community in the design of a strategic plan, which guides
all improvement work in the district. TPS's success in
recent years, in the face of many challenges, is a testament
to the hard work and resilience of the district's more than
4,300 employees. TPS proposes to build on this momentum
through Partnerships, Resources, and Opportunities for Urban
Districts (PROUD). The intended long-term outcomes of PROUD
align to three of the six goals of the TPS strategic plan:
1) Increase student achievement and growth, 2) Provide a
mentally and physically safe environment, and 3) Attract and
retain highly skilled and highly performing staff.
Meeting Absolute Priorities
1 and 2 , TPS will implement evidence-based interventions
across the district's 51 schools, of which 44 (86%) are
designated high needs. Through PROUD, TPS will: (1) Align
and improve current HCMS efforts as well as create new
programs and partnerships to attract, prepare, mentor,
support, evaluate, compensate, and retain diverse teachers
and school leaders (SLs) in all schools. (2) Provide
opportunities for exceptional building leaders to be
compensated for having a greater impact across the district.
(3) Develop targeted growth opportunities, coaching,
support, and performance-based compensation for teachers and
SLs in 17 identified "Opportunity Zone Schools," which are
currently the hardest-to-staff schools in the district as
well as the hardest to sustain improvement. These schools
are all located in or serve students who live in a Qualified
Opportunity Zone.
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