Alaska

NTC Induction Policy Survey

Background
About two years ago, a partnership was developed between the University and the Alaska Department of Education to develop an effective intervention to increase student achievement and reduce teacher turnover.  A model was crafted that included two year full release mentoring for teachers and coaching of new administrators to address both objectives.   

In 2004-5 the project was funded by the grant and served 31 out of 53 districts, mentoring 331 new teachers and 45 principals.  In 2005-2006 they served 37 districts, mentoring 381 teachers and 24 coaches.

Details of the project can be found at: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/mt/

Current Status
This year, with data to support the effectiveness of the program the state DoE approached the state legislature to support this work on an ongoing basis with the objective of increasing student achievement and reducing teacher turnover.  They faced a challenge, in that the state had initially stated that it would fund no new programs, and didn’t want to set the precedent of agreeing to fund federal initiatives that were discontinued.  Nonetheless, the Legislature has just approved funding for a state-wide mentoring program for next year.  The mandate also includes support for new administrators, but rather than the NTC coaching model, it advocates targeted professional development.