Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I am eligible? How will the transfer stipend be taxed? How will the transfer stipend affect my pension/retirement? How can I get more information? How do I know if I am eligible?To qualify, candidates must teach a tested grade level and subject (please click here for eligibility requirements for your district) and have demonstrated significant improvement with their students’ academic performance over the past two or three years. Candidates must also be currently teaching in a participating school district but cannot already be teaching in a school targeted for this program. Teachers are identified as eligible for the program based on an analysis of their effect on students’ academic improvement over the past two or three years, controlling for students’ past performance and several other factors that may affect student achievement. This analysis is based on data provided to the program’s study team by your school district. If I am eligible and don’t participate this year, will I be able to participate next year?We encourage all recognized teachers to apply this year. While there is a possibility that your district will continue the program in the future, we cannot guarantee that you will have another opportunity to earn this $20,000 stipend. When is the application deadline?To see dates and deadlines specific to your district, please click here. What is it like to teach at a participating school?Academically, many students in the district's high-need schools are achieving below grade level in various tested subjects. While the path to achieving academic success for these students can be challenging, we believe that all program participants have the proven expertise and knowledge necessary to thrive in these schools and help struggling students. Teachers who choose to transfer to one of our participating schools will have access to any additional resources and professional development provided by the district, specifically geared toward high-need schools. There may be additional challenges in participating schools that are not present in your current school related to classroom management and school culture. We hope to help mitigate these issues by offering support during the summer orientation and by continuing to check in with teachers throughout the school year. What is expected of me as a program participant?The main expectation is that you continue to do your best in a new and potentially challenging setting, though your eligibility to continue in the program is not contingent on your students’ achievement. Teachers who choose to transfer to a new school will participate in four to eight hours of professional development over the summer to prepare them to enter a new school environment and address some of the challenges they may face: increased quantity and severity of classroom management challenges; working with a new team of teachers; and adjusting to a new or different instructional program. To aid with the study of this program, participants will be asked to complete a short survey, for which they will receive additional monetary compensation. How is the Talent Transfer Initiative different from other incentive-based programs offered by the district?The Talent Transfer Initiative is a very selective, targeted, federally funded initiative designed to study the effects high-performing teachers have on high-need schools. We are working with a small number of the district's high-need schools. Only candidates who were identified as eligible for the Talent Transfer Initiative are being invited to apply. Candidates will be selected based on their prior success in contributing to their students' achievement growth. They also must have taught a tested grade and subject for the past two or three years. By participating in the Talent Transfer Initiative, participants will have the opportunity to take on a new and exciting challenge at the participating school of their choice. Is this a district program? Who is running the program?Your district has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Talent Transfer Initiative whereby the district receives federal funding to manage the program in partnership with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., a public policy evaluation research organization based in Princeton, New Jersey. Mathematica and its partner organizations are working with your district's Department of Human Resources to carry out the initiative. More information about Mathematica can be found on its website. How will the transfer stipend be taxed?Taxes will not be withheld on transfer stipend payments; however, you will receive Form 1099-MISC (used to report miscellaneous income) in January following each year that you receive payments. You should expect that your standard tax rate will apply to the payments based on your income tax bracket. We recommend that you set aside a portion of the stipend so that you are well-prepared to pay the required income tax. How will the transfer stipend affect my pension/retirement?The transfer stipend is federally-funded. Therefore, it is paid directly to you and does not affect your pension or retirement. How can I get more information?We will hold information sessions in your district for eligible teachers who are interested in learning more about the program. These sessions will provide you with more information about the Talent Transfer Initiative and offer networking opportunities with other outstanding teachers in your school district. For additional information on information sessions taking place in your school district, please click here. |