Group 15: Instructional Coaches. IMPACT: The District of Columbia Public Schools Effectiveness Assessment System for School-Based Personnel, 2012-2013

The 2012-2013 school year represents a pivotal juncture for DC Public Schools. Last spring, Mayor Gray and Chancellor Kaya Henderson introduced "A Capital Commitment," their ambitious plan to dramatically accelerate student achievement in the district over the next five years by providing all of their students with a safe, academically challenging, and inspiring learning experience. The Chancellor deeply believe that it will be the educators working in their schools who will lead on the path to realizing the bold goals that they have set out to achieve by 2017. But five years is a very short amount of time, and these goals will only become reality if they make meaningful changes to the way they've done things in the past. That is why this year, they are introducing the 2012-2013 version of IMPACT which has been designed to: (1) Raise the expectations for school leaders, teachers, and staff; (2) Differentiate to recognize strong performers; (3) Allow teachers to drop low outlier observation scores; (4) Reduce the weight of Individual Value-Added Student Achievement Data; and (5) Support your development in new ways. The primary purpose of IMPACT is to help educators become more effective in their work. Its commitment to continuous learning applies not only to its students, but to others as well. IMPACT supports educators' growth by: (1) Clarifying Expectations; (2) Providing Feedback; (3) Facilitating Collaboration; (4) Driving Professional Development; and (5) Retaining Great People. This guidebook centers on Group 15 which consists of all instructional coaches. It discusses the three IMPACT components for members of Group 15 and offers guidance on how to be more effective in their work.