M-DCPS Awarded $26.6 Million Grant to Elevate Teacher Profession

Press Release

M-DCPS Awarded $26.6 Million USDOE Grant to Elevate Teacher Profession Through Compensation, Professional Development

DORAL, FL – Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been awarded a nearly $27 million dollar, three-year grant by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) for its commitment to elevate the teaching profession through the Teacher and School Leader Incentive (TSL) program.

The grant will support M-DCPS’ newly launched Miami Leading Educator Advancement and Recognition through Networks of Support (Miami LEARNS) initiative, which aims to increase student achievement and close the achievement gap in high-need schools.

Miami LEARNS ensures access to highly effective teachers and school leaders through the implementation of a cohesive and effective performance-based compensation system that recognizes, develops, supports and compensates instructional and leadership excellence.

“Our incredible educators deserve the very best professional development opportunities that can, in turn, lead to career growth,” said Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “This sizeable grant will assist M-DCPS in fulfilling our commitment to support the advancement of our teachers.”

Benefits of the grant funding for Miami LEARNS will include:

• Expanding teacher leadership preparation opportunities.
• Defining and credentialing four 21st century classroom-based teacher leadership positions.
• Reviewing and realigning current compensation models for teacher leadership positions and roles.
• Increasing the clarity of communication at all access points for external and internal candidates about entry, career ladder, and career lattice requirements, and preparation and advancement opportunities.
• Implementing a more robust system for connecting educators with personalized, targeted, relevant, and rigorous professional learning opportunities as a result of data emerging from observations and evaluations.
• Improving instructional effectiveness and retention of early-career and out-of-field teachers
• Increasing the reliability and validity of the observation processes and evaluation systems for educators.
• Improving the effectiveness of instructional leaders through job-embedded professional learning and support.
• Support the fidelity of implementation of research-based best practices to improve instructional effectiveness and student learning outcomes at high-need schools.

The USDOE has made 13 awards nationwide to support local education agencies in developing, enhancing and improving compensation systems for teachers and principals. Recipients include 11 public school districts and charter school networks from around the country, and two nonprofits entities.