This report from the Department of Research and Evaluation in the Austin Independent School District summarizes activities and key lessons emerging from the district’s participation in the Building a Teacher Effectiveness Network (BTEN). Lessons address the specifics of supporting new teachers as well as the practices and conditions that support systemic improvement efforts.
Austin Independent School District (Texas) participated in BTEN from 2011 through 2015. The BTEN networked improvement community was convened by the Carnegie Foundation in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and the Aspen Institute. Focused on improving new teacher efficacy and retention, the network included AISD as well as two other systems: Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland and New Visions for Public Schools in New York City.
The report describes the improvement work AISD undertook as a member of the network and the key learnings developed through its participation.
