Please read this carefully prior to submitting your application.

Transcription

1 GUIDE TO BECOMING A MATH CORPS SITE This document contains information administrators should know in considering becoming a Math Corps site for the school year. Please read this carefully prior to submitting your application. TABLE OF CONTENTS Checklist: Completing the Math Corps application... 2 Math Corps Program Model... 3 Supporting Roles in Math Corps... 5 Site Expectations in Implementing Math Corps... 6 Description of Math Tutors... 7 Description of Internal Coach... 8 Costs of Math Corps Program Timeline Math Corps Sites

2 CHECKLIST: COMPLETING THE MATH CORPS APPLICATION This checklist is a tool to help you prepare and submit a strong application. If you have questions while completing the Site Application, please contact Alison Jirik ajirik@servemnaction.org or Part 1: Gather and Prepare Information Review the Internal Coach position description. How will Internal Coach s schedule reflect time for Math Corps duties (approx. 6-9 hours per tutor per month) plus training (24 hours of training for new coaches or 8 hours of training for returning coaches)? How will Internal Coach be compensated for required August training dates? Mileage/hotel accommodations? How will Internal Coach be compensated for time spent on Math Corps duties throughout the year? Proposed Internal Coach: The Recruitment Contact should be available for frequent phone and conversations in the spring, and will make frequent and repeated appeals to the school s networks to recruit for the open position(s) until filled. Proposed Recruitment Contact: The principal may serve as the Recruitment Contact. Gather Free & Reduced Lunch numbers, Number of 4 th -8 th graders who were partially proficient (40-49) on the Math MCA III the previous spring, your Minnesota Department of Education identification number (xxxx-xx-xxx), and a summary of your MDE Math plan regarding Tier II student support. Sites that have previously applied for Math Corps: You will receive an with a 7-digit Site ID number that we have assigned. You will need all of this information to complete your application. Determine the number of Corps Members and type (full time or part time) for which to apply. How many students will be eligible (scoring in the partially proficient range on the prior year s MCA III)? Will the schedule allow for 90 minutes of tutoring weekly tutoring for students (tutored in pairs) for each full time tutor, or students (tutored in pairs) for each part time tutor? Budget for the proposed number and type(s) of member(s). Who will be responsible for paying the site fee ($1800 per full time tutor; $1000 per part time tutor) Where in the building would be the designated workspace for the tutor(s)? Applying for full time tutor(s) Applying for part time tutor(s) Math Corps tutors will be expected to recruit, train and support 5 community volunteers to implement fact fluency interventions with students during the school day and/or after school. How will this type of community volunteer engagement fit into your building? What is the background check process for community volunteers serving in your school? Who pays for the checks? X Part 2: Submit Application Instructions Locate site application at (Available December 1, 2014). Create a new user account, even if you applied last year or already completed a PreK Reading Corps or K3 Reading Corps application. You will create your own username/password. Complete the application. You may save partial work and log in prior to January 14, 2015 to finish or make changes. By January 14, 2015: Save and submit the completed application. You will receive an auto- with your responses to save for your records. Math Corps Sites

3 MATH CORPS PROGRAM MODEL Minnesota Math Corps is a statewide initiative to help students become proficient in algebra by the end of eighth grade. During the school year, over 200 Math Corps members (or Math Enrichment Tutors) are serving in more than 160 schools representing 50 school districts. In , Minnesota Math Corps hopes to place over 200 Math Corps members in elementary, middle, and junior high schools. What services does Minnesota Math Corps provide? Trained Math Corps tutors provide research-based interventions to 4 th -8 th grade students who are just below grade-level proficiency in math. Math Corps tutors serve students in pairs. Tutoring occurs for 90 minutes each week and targets core math skills designed to prepare students for future success with algebra. Specifically, tutoring targets skills within Strands 1 (Number & Operation) and 2 (Algebra) of the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics. Which students are eligible to receive Math Corps services? 4 th -8 th grade students scoring partially proficient (40-49) on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment III. Students who need skill practice versus intensive math instruction. When are Math Corps services delivered? Tutoring sessions occur during the school day but outside of the student s classroom-based core reading or math instruction. Tutoring occurs for 90 minutes each week, typically in three 30-minute sessions. What support is provided to the Math Corps members? Each Math Corps member is assigned a support team made up of three individuals: o The Master Coach is an expert in math intervention strategies. This is a paid consultant from Minnesota Math Corps. Master Coaches visit the members at least three times per year. o The Program Coordinator provides overall support and guidance to the Math Corps member to ensure successful completion of the AmeriCorps service requirements. o The Internal Coach is a school psychologist, interventionist, math teacher, or curriculum specialist within the school. The internal coach provides daily support to ensure the program is implemented with a high degree of fidelity. It is estimated each member receives 6-9 hours of support from the internal coach monthly. In addition to regular coaching meetings, the Internal Coach observes tutor(s) with students and checks intervention integrity using checklists. Who are Math Enrichment tutors? Individuals who have signed up to do one year of national service through AmeriCorps and are commonly referred to as members. The tutors receive a living allowance and earn hours of service toward an education award to pay for college tuition or pay back college loans. AmeriCorps is often referred to as the domestic Peace Corps. Math Corps tutors serve as AmeriCorps members who focus on solving a societal problem - in this case, preventing math failure. Math Corps tutors serve in part-time or full-time positions at a school and are supervised by an Internal Coach at the school. Math Corps tutors are not employees of the school district nor are they paraprofessionals; they may not be used to supplant services provided by the school or site employees. Math Corps Sites

4 EVIDENCE-BASED MATH PROGRAM Math Corps is a data-driven organization, and it uses assessment data to (a) identify at-risk students, (b) target instruction, and (c) monitor student progress during intervention. Math Corps developed its strategies in accordance with best practices for math interventions. The strategies Math Corps uses are recommended by national experts, such as the U.S. Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences as well as the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, and each strategy has a strong researchbase. Math Corps developed content and procedures to allow trained, coached tutors to deliver these strategies to students who need them. The interventions target key skills for algebra success that align with Minnesota state math standards. Math Corps does not provide tutoring for all MN math standards, but focuses on two content strands: (1) Number & Operation and (2) Algebra. Math Corps provides interventions in three ways, each of which helps develop students' thorough understanding and proficiency with math skills. First, Math Corps builds conceptual understanding. It does so using the evidence-based concrete-representational-abstract intervention approach. This approach explicitly teaches students the underlying meaning of math concepts using manipulatives, drawn representations, and mathematical symbols. Next, Math Corps provides explicit instruction, modeling, and practice in solving word problems. This evidence-based approach provides students the opportunity to apply their conceptual understanding in a meaningful way. Finally, Math Corps ensures students have successful computational skills by other evidence-based strategies that give students instruction and structured practice opportunities. Students whose state math assessment data indicate partial proficiency are eligible for Math Corps tutoring. For students who receive Math Corps, assessment data are also used to guide instruction and track progress. After each intervention session is completed, assessment data indicate whether students have sufficient conceptual understanding, word problem-solving, or computational skills to move onto the next skill. Throughout tutoring, students are assessed at regular intervals using the STAR Math assessment. The STAR Math assessment is a computer-based assessment that produces high-quality data that inform how well students are progressing toward grade-expected goals. Math Corps provides initial and ongoing training to prepare and support tutors in implementing the supplemental intervention curriculum. Math Corps also trains Internal Coaches in their role in providing direction, oversight and support to the tutor. In addition, Math Corps provides the school with the expertise of an outside math consultant (Master Coach) who provides support and oversight by connecting with the school regularly (in-person at least 3 times per year) and responding to s/phone calls between visits. Math Corps Sites

5 SUPPORTING ROLES IN MATH CORPS 4 th 8 th grade students Math Corps Tutor An AmeriCorps member serving for one year. Tutors are not employees of the school. Full-time tutors serve 40 hours/week and part-time tutors serve 20 hours/week at the school. Primary role is to implement the Math Corps model in working with pairs of students 90 minutes per week to help them improve their math skills. Internal Coach Existing employee of the school who has background in Math instruction, assessment, and intervention. Dedicates approximately 6-9 hours per tutor per month to support Math Corps at his/her school. Role Summary: - Provide daily on-site oversight and support to tutor - Set-up the tutor s schedule - Ensure fidelity to Math Corps model at the school - Use data to make instructional decisions for students - Observe tutoring sessions and provide feedback to the tutor Master Coach Consultant or employee of Math Corps Content area expert who provides support to the school related to Math. Visits school regularly. Role Summary: - Provide on-site coaching support to Internal Coach - Ensure fidelity to Math Corps model - Support data-based decision making at the school Program Staff Employee of Math Corps Program administrator that provides support to the school related to program management/administration. Role Summary: - Support school in tutor performance issues - Coordinate training for tutors and coaches - Recruit and interview tutors for next year - Hold site accountable to Math Corps expectations Math Corps Sites

6 SITE EXPECTATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING MATH CORPS 1. Identify a staff person to fill the role of Internal Coach and allocate sufficient time for the person to attend training and fulfill the responsibilities of Math Corps, including providing on-site supervision and support of the Math Corps tutor. 2. Work in collaboration with Math Corps staff to find high-quality Math Corps tutors for your site. 3. Educate teachers about the Math Corps model to capture buy-in and support. 4. Welcome the tutor to the school, introduce to staff, provide an orientation to the school, etc. In addition, designate tutoring space that allows students to focus on the task. Provide work space for the tutor to use, including a locked filing cabinet and computer access. 5. Have a mechanism in place to identify 4 th -8 th grade students who do not receive supplemental Math services (including special education or Title I) but are in need of additional support to meet state math standards. 6. Follow Math Corps eligibility guidelines to determine which students are eligible for Math Corps services. 7. Support the tutor s implementation of Math Corps research-based Math interventions. 8. Assist tutors in creating the tutoring schedule. 9. Support curriculum-based assessments to guide instruction and tutoring interventions. 10. Oversee progress monitoring for participating students to guide tutoring interventions. Tutors are responsible for using STAR Math, as well recording this data, and tutor logs, into OnCorps, the online data management system used by Math Corps. 11. Ensure that Math Corps tutors consistently serve a full caseload of students at any given time students for full-time tutors or students for part-time tutors. 12. Adhere to the exit criteria guidelines set by Math Corps, which establish when a student is ready to be exited from Math Corps services. 13. Provide demographic data & state-assigned student ID number for students receiving Math Corps services. Note: The Math Corps program functions in full compliance with state laws and the Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), the Federal law that governs appropriate protection of student education record data. A detailed description of data required from the site for participating students is provided in the Math Corps Site Agreement. 14. Support community volunteer engagement requirement by supporting members to train community volunteers in fact fluency active practice games. Math Corps Sites

7 DESCRIPTION OF MATH TUTORS Role Description: Math Tutors work with students (in pairs) who need help building their math skills. They use prescribed, research-based math interventions and conduct progress monitoring to ensure the student is on track. Tutors make a one-year commitment to service. Math Tutor Who is this person? What does the member do at the site? Someone recruited from the community a recent college graduate, a parent, a retiree, etc. The tutor provides 90 minutes of targeted Math Corps interventions to pairs of students (typically in three 30-minute or two 45-minute tutoring sessions each week). Are there other things the member is expected to do? The tutor is required to attend ongoing Math Corps training. Training may occur on Saturday in some locations. What is the time commitment? What are the financial benefits? What are the nonfinancial benefits? A full-time tutor serves 40 hours / week at the site and completes 1720 hours of service August 2015 through June A part-time tutor serves 20 hours / week and completes 920 hours. -Bi-weekly living allowance -Education award up to $5,645 -Student loan deferment on federal loans -Limited benefits health insurance (FT) -Make an impact on their community -Gain valuable experience in a school -Learn math intervention strategies How do they get involved? Start the process by completing a Math Corps application online at Math Corps Sites

8 DESCRIPTION OF INTERNAL COACH Math coaching is a critical element to the success of Math Corps and its students. The ability to provide adequate coaching support must be carefully considered in becoming a Math Corps site. Internal Coach Description Role Person The Internal Coach is designated by the principal and will be trained by Math Corps to provide math support and oversight to the Math Corps tutors. Internal Coaches will uphold the Math Corps model and act as a liaison between teachers and tutors or program staff. School psychologists, RtI Specialists, math teachers, or math specialists are excellent candidates for Internal Coaches. Classroom teachers and administrators are typically not good candidates for Internal Coaches because it is difficult to find time to conduct observations during the school day. An Internal Coach should: Be knowledgeable about the use of curriculum-based measurement Be knowledgeable about scripted math interventions (Standard Treatment Protocol) Have time available to dedicate to the program, including attending required training and coaching sessions Be knowledgeable in math instruction We recommend that principals be thoughtful about incorporating this responsibility into a staff person s position. Challenges occur when a principal assigns this responsibility to a staff person who already has many other responsibilities. Time Commitment Average of 6-9 hours of coaching and support per tutor per month 32 hours of training (new coaches) or 16 hours of training (returning) Required training + coaching for 1 tutor = approx 0.1 FTE Required training + coaching for 2 tutors = approx 0.15 FTE Required training + coaching for 3 tutors = approx 0.2 FTE Training Summer Institute: Internal Coaches are required to attend Summer Institute as a preservice training. New coaches attend three days (24 hrs) of training and returning coaches attend one day (8 hrs) of training. Math Corps Sites

9 Responsibilities MINNESOTA MATH CORPS Provide an on-site orientation for the tutor to introduce him/her to your school Provide support to allow the tutor to develop professionally throughout the year, including inviting the tutor to participate in professional development opportunities at the service site and in the community Complete intervention integrity checklists for each intervention observed, provide feedback to the tutor, and submit forms to Math Corps Set a daily tutoring schedule with the tutor that includes the ability to serve 40 hours per week (full-time tutors) or 20 hours per week (part-time tutors) at the site, with a full caseload of students at any given time (24-26 students for full-time tutors / students for part-time), with sessions occurring 2-3 times per week for a minimum of 90 minutes of tutoring each week Work collaboratively with the tutor to select and exit students according to Math Corps criteria, Ensure the tutor is accurately reporting student data, including assessment scores and demographic information Consult with the Master Coach, who meets with the Internal Coach and tutors to do observations, conduct fidelity checks for assessment and interventions, and review student progress. The frequency of Master Coach visits depending on the site s needs & Internal Coach s experience with Math Corps. Additionally, Master Coaches, Internal Coaches, and tutors engage in discussions and review of student data/progress. Work closely with Math Corps program staff and site administration to proactively address performance issues if they arise. Tutors are expected to adhere to site policies and procedures regarding confidentiality, safety, dress code, attendance, etc. Participate in special site visits to highlight and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Math Corps program. These site visits may include media, legislators, corporations, and other parties involved in funding Approve tutor timesheets once every two weeks and complete a tutor performance evaluation two times per year Complete a semi-annual online program survey and participate in semi-annual site visits with Math Corps program staff Submit in-kind timesheets to record the time devoted to Math Corps oversight and support Math Corps Sites

10 COSTS OF MATH CORPS Minnesota Math Corps has a site fee to help cover program related expenses. This includes Master Coach support, member and internal coach training, and intervention and assessment materials. The site fee will be $1800 for each full-time member and $1000 for each part-time member. The fee may be paid at the beginning of the year or in two installments with the final installment due January 29, You will be asked in the application to state if the site (or district) will be paying this fee. Important Note: The materials belong to Minnesota Math Corps, not the site. The expenses incurred by a site while it participates in Math Corps above and beyond the site fee are considered the site s in-kind contribution to the program. The site must document and submit its in-kind contributions to Math Corps each month. Description of cost Site Fee ($1800 per full-time member, $1000 per part-time member) Math Corps pays Site pays * Tutor recruitment efforts (i.e. newspaper ads) Background checks on tutors ** Tutor living allowance Tutor benefits (insurance for full time tutors, education award, forbearance) Worker s Compensation policy for tutors Tutor mileage to attend Math Corps-required training Tutor mileage to attend site-required training (if applicable) Cost of including tutors in site-sponsored training Misc. supplies used by tutor (e.g. markers, photocopies, paper) Computer and Internet access for tutor Work space for the tutor, including locked file cabinet Salary of Internal Coach to fulfill Math Corps responsibilities *** Salary of Master Coach to fulfill Math Corps responsibilities Math Corps manual, including assessment & intervention materials Expenses related to Internal Coach s attending of Math Corps training: Training content fees for regularly scheduled Math Corps trainings Training content fees for make-up Math Corps trainings Travel expenses (e.g. lodging, mileage, food, parking, etc.) Salary of Internal Coach to attend training days Cost of substitute to allow Internal Coach to attend all training days ($75/hr) Math Corps Sites

11 * The expenses incurred by a site when it participates in Math Corps are considered the site s in-kind contribution to the program, and must be reported to Math Corps so that the program can meet its federal matching requirement. ** If site or district policy requires a background check above and beyond what is conducted by Math Corps, that fee is not paid by the program, nor may it be passed on to the tutor. *** We recommend that principals be thoughtful about incorporating the Internal Coach responsibility into a staff person s position. Challenges occur when a principal assigns this responsibility to a staff person who already has many other responsibilities. PROGRAM TIMELINE December 1 December 15 January 14 Week of February 16 February June March 27 May 29 June 30 August August 18 August Site Application released online Tutor Application released online Site Application due Sites are notified about site selection decisions ( site awards ); Site Agreement follows Recruitment and selection period for the tutor position Signed Site Agreement returned to Math Corps Internal Coach is identified and is registered to attend Summer Institute All tutor positions filled! (unfilled positions may be re-assigned to other sites) Continue to recruit for all unfilled positions Summer Institute training for new Internal Coaches Summer Institute training for returning Internal Coaches Summer Institute training for Math Corps tutors Dates included in this timeline are subject to change based on program need. Math Corps Sites