Teacher-Advancement Plan Percolates in Iowa

By Francesca Duffy

As part of a far-reaching effort to create a statewide teacher-advancement model, the Iowa Department of Education this week released an extensive proposal to create new career paths and differentiated compensation for educators. The proposal is expected to be the centerpiece of Republican Governor Terry Branstad’s 2013 education agenda.

Last fall, Gov. Branstad's administration offered a similar but less detailed blueprint that was ultimately rejected by the state’s House of Representatives. Gov. Branstad subsequently appointed a Teacher Leadership and Compensation Taskforce—made up of Iowa education association directors, school administrators, university directors, education experts, and teachers—to look more closely at the issues involved and to lay out specific responsibilities and pay increases for teacher-leadership roles. The task force’s recommendations make up the...