VPAT

Voluntary Partnership Assistance Team (VPAT) service (a KSBA, KDE, KASS collaboration)

In an effort to assist “Tier 3” districts under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, KSBA collaborates with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents (KASS) to provide the Voluntary Partnership Assistance Team (VPAT) service.

This partnership is an intensive and voluntary assistance model designed to build capacity at the district and school level for improved student achievement. VPAT includes a rigorous scholastic review, team planning, monthly progress reports at board meetings and regular meetings with district leadership to support and monitor improvement.

VPAT teams consist of:

· the local superintendent (who leads the team);

· a retired, successful superintendent from KASS to support the local superintendent;

· a retired or sitting school board member from KSBA to facilitate the local board’s professional growth and meetings;

· a Highly Skilled Educator from KDE to support implementation of the improvement plan, and

· a KDE staff member whose expertise matches the needs assessment of the district.

The team develops a district improvement plan focused on school culture, leadership, curriculum, effective instruction and data-driven decision making.

Seven pilot districts completed the VPAT program in 2005 and another 17 districts were added in 2006. As the program has grown, a cadre of active or former school board members has been recruited and trained to meet needs. These members have received specialized training in order to effectively work with other board members in the districts to which they are assigned.

Cadre representatives attend regular school board meetings, visit schools, review data and work with district personnel with the other VPAT partners.

The 2006 CATS test results showed that all seven of the school systems involved in the VPTA program recorded gains in their district accountability indexes, from one up less than a point to three rising more than six points.

Districts that qualify for this program and have interest in participating should contact KDE’s Office of Leadership and School Improvement at (502) 564-7820.

At KSBA, contact David Baird at 800-372-2962.

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Kentucky School Boards Association

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