The U.S. Department of Education announced today a $15,330,197 grant awarded to Fort Wayne Community Schools to improve pay structures and provide greater professional opportunities to teachers in high poverty schools. Fort Wayne Community Schools is among 35 winning applicants, comprise districts, partnering districts, states, and nonprofits that together serve nearly 1,000 schools in 150 urban, suburban, and rural school districts in 18 states and D.C.
 
“Whether urban or rural, traditional or charter, successful schools are not possible without great teaching and leadership,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Our best teachers and principals are invaluable leaders in changing life outcomes for students. They are desperately needed in our struggling schools, and they deserve to be recognized, rewarded, and given the opportunity to have a greater influence on their colleagues, students, and in their communities.”
All applicants submitted proposals, developed in part by teachers, that provide opportunities for teacher leadership and advancement, put in place district-wide evaluations based on multiple measures that include student growth, and improve decision-making through better evaluations.
“The Teacher Incentive Fund called on local leaders to engage teachers in influencing the future of the teaching profession,” said Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Deb Delisle. “Many more districts will benefit tremendously from an investment in scaling up and securing the talents and abilities of effective teachers and principals within their toughest schools.”
 
The 2012 TIF program encouraged districts to enhance educator compensation systems through one of two models – career ladders or performance-based pay with the option for additional responsibilities. With either model, applicants were able to submit a general proposal or a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused proposal.
 
Twenty-nine winners received funding to create general, district-wide evaluation systems that reward success and drive decision-making on recruiting, retaining, and providing additional responsibilities to great teachers. Among the 29 projects, two grantees – New York City Public Schools and L.A. Unified School District – will pursue compensation systems based around career ladders. Six will focus on developing and supporting excellent science and math teachers.  

The 35 winners listed below were selected from a pool of over 120 applications. Award amounts represent the first 2 years of funding over the 5-year grant period. Continued funding is contingent upon congressional action. 

For more information on the TIF program and the 2012 grantees, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/awards.html.  
 
2012 Teacher Incentive Fund Grantees:
 
Grantee
State
Award Amount
Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
Calif.
$2,181,505
Aspire Public Schools
Calif.
$11,897,000
Breakthrough Charter Schools
Ohio
$3,326,441
Center for Educational Innovation – Public Education Assoc.
N.Y.
$3,038,827
Center for Educational Innovation – Public Education Assoc. (serves schools in N.J.)
N.Y.
$2,952,477
Charleston County School District
S.C.
$8,872,060
Community Training and Assistance Center, Inc. (serves schools in Calif.)
Mass.
$3,666,382
District of Columbia Public Schools
D.C.
$23,728,797
Education Achievement Authority of Michigan
Mich.
$5,905,652
Education Service Center 18
Texas
$9,801,145
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Ind.
$15,330,197
Gilchrist County School District
Fla.
$3,906,468
Green Dot Public Schools
Calif.
$1,873,619
Harrison School District Two
Colo.
$4,079,060
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Fla.
$16,799,498
LifeSchool of Dallas
Texas
$1,812,200
Los Angeles Unified School District
Calif.
$16,066,199
Maine Department of Education
Maine
$8,831,451
Maricopa County Education Service Agency
Ariz.
$11,010,767
National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (serves schools in Minn.)
Calif.
$4,612,340
National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (serves schools in Tenn.)
Calif.
$3,964,593
New Haven Public School System
Conn.
$11,982,159
New York City Department of Education
N.Y.
$13,901,980
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
N.J.
$7,814,733
School Board of Miami-Dade County
Fla.
$2,511,636
School District No. 1 in the City and County of Denver
Colo.
$8,909,813
School District of Lee County
Fla.
$17,632,764
Tennessee Department of Education
Tenn.
$5,515,596
The School Board of Broward County
Fla.
$18,155,918
 
 
 
Grantee (STEM Focus)
State
Award Amount
Calcasieu Parish School System
La.
$7,862,857
Houston Independent School District
Texas
$7,714,032<br /> National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (serves schools in Tenn.)
Calif.
$2,316,209
School Board of Orange County
Fla.
$7,403,161
South Carolina Department of Education
S.C.
$5,272,237
Washoe County School District
Nev.
$9,711,497