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Enhanced Peer Coaching Grant Program
- What Is
Enhanced Peer Coaching?
- Is
EPC for Me?
- Is My District Eligible?
- Am I Eligible?
- Who is not Eligable?
- How Do I Apply for
Peer Coach Training?
- What Kind of Program Activities Can I Expect?
- How Much Funding & How Do I Spend It?
- What Do the Research & Evaluation Reports Say About Peer Coaching?
- How Do We Fund
EPC?
- Who Teaches the
EPC Syllabus for 2009-2010?
- What Is the
EPC Commitment for Me & My Principal?
- Missed the
EPC Grant Deadline?
What Is the Enhanced Peer Coaching (EPC) Program?
Peer coaching is professional development in which two or more teachers work together ― one coaching the other ― to improve individual instructional practice. As colleagues in the same school, they share classroom experiences, observe and team teach in each other’s classrooms.
EPC works best for educators who have some experience with tech integration and learner-centered instructional practice and who are ready to coach a colleague in these 21st century techniques ― Tier 2 or 3 educators.
We promote the Enhanced Peer Coaching Grant Program as a proven way to teach educators how to integrate technology-rich learning activities into standards-based instruction. The program is designed for teachers and teacher-librarians certified in Washington state who:
- Have little or no training or experience with peer coaching.
- Regular access to a classroom.
Each peer coach we train will coach at least one teacher during the program’s two-year training cycle. The peer coach provides one-to-one classroom-based support as the collaborating teacher learns to apply and refine new ways to deepen and strengthen the learning experience for each student
Our peer coaches join a supportive, evolving community of learners and practitioners. They begin a long-term dialogue that covers shared experience, reflection, new understanding and the integration of tools that promote a new kind of learning environment. It’s a powerful way to try, refine and implement – as social learners
Is Enhanced Peer Coaching for Me?
An ideal EPC participant is:
- New to peer coaching or wants to expand his or her peer coaching skills.
- Familiar with the basic principles of peer coaching, learner-centered instruction and technology integration.
Is My District Eligible?
At the outset of each grant cycle, we publish a list of eligible districts with the demographic and academic profiles that meet strict federal requirements:
- Highest percentage of children from families with incomes below the poverty line (the percentage of children ages 5-17 must be higher than the statewide average of 13.93%, as measured by the latest census), AND
- Serve one or more schools identified for improvement, OR
- Did not meet Annual Yearly Progress, OR
- Did not meet Annual Yearly Progress, OR
Am I Eligible?
Yes, if you are a public school teacher certified by Washington State or library media specialist with regular access to a classroom. There are two technological requirements:
- Access to a valid email account.
- Basic skills with productivity software and the Internet.
Who is Not Eligible?
Educators who are previous Enhanced Peer Coaching Grant Program recipients are NOT eligible.
How do I Apply for Peer Coach Training?
- Apply for a grant through OSPI’s Enhanced Peer Coaching Program (EPC).
- We open the EPC grant cycle every February and post the instructions and grant application online.
- Pay for training.
- Each ETSC offers a fee-based version of peer coach training. The curriculum was developed by Microsoft. Cost, locations, schedules are ETSC specific. Contact the peer coach trainer in your Educational Technology peer coach ETSC director.
What Program Activities Can I Expect?
- Instruction ― comprehensive training sessions that introduce student-centered instructional practices.
- Technology integration ― how to enrich standards-based lessons with specific educational technologies.
- Coaching ― how to coach a participating teacher. You must work with at least one other teacher during the school year. Together you’ll work closely to improve instructional practice, and integrate technology to strengthen classroom curriculum and improve academic achievement.
How Much Funding & How Do I Spend It?
Each funded application is assigned $9,000 for the school year. Second year activities will depend on the amount of federal funding allocated for Title II, Part D programs, up to a maximum of $4,500 per funded application.
In year one, each EPC grant funds:
- 10 days of training for peer coaches led by staff in the Educational Technology Support Center (ETSC) Program.
- Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE) Conference registration.
- Travel expenses.
- Substitute teacher OR release time costs.
- Equipment and software for participating classrooms.
In year two, each EPC grant funds:
- Four days of training — in person and online — for peer coaches led by staff in the Educational Technology Support Center (ETSC) Program.
- NCCE 2009 registration fee and travel expenses ― includes substitute costs and release time.
- Hardware/software that will:
- Set up a new participating teacher, OR
- Buy additional technology for the peer coach.
How do we Fund the Enhanced Peer Coaching Program?
The program is funded federally through the Enhancing Education Through Technology Program attached to the Title II, Part D provisions of the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) Act. The funding boost we received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) made it possible to award more qualifying applications.
Who Teaches the Enhanced Peer Coaching Syllabus for 2009-2010?
Commitment ― Participant
Register for the EPC program and you agree to these terms and conditions:
- Participate fully in the EPC program from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011.
- Attend all training sessions.
- Participate actively in all online activities.
- Apply the instructional strategies and technology integration techniques you learn through the EPC program to your classroom lessons.
- Use additional hours, beyond the time spent in EPC training, to plan,
and evaluate the lesson design principles and instructional strategies you learn during EPC PD sessions.
Complete the Participating Teacher Commitment Form.
Commitment ― Principal
If an educator on your staff registers for the EPC PD program, you agree to these terms and conditions:
- Attendance support for all the required professional development sessions and online learning modules.
- Installation support ― make sure the teacher has all the required hardware and software up and running in their classroom by the EPC program deadlines, detailed above.
- Timely technical and network support during the course of the program.
- Internet access in the classroom for the EPC participant, and his or her students.
Missed the Grant Deadline?
TL21 is also available as a two-year fee-based professional development program offered by the Educational Technology Support Center at each ESD. Contact your ETSC director.
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