There are now 17 school districts, one Education Service District (ESD), and one alternative school system participating in the CLASS Project.

Chalkboard wants Oregon’s schools to be among the best in the nation.  We think the most effective way to achieve that goal is to pursue collaborative teacher effectiveness strategies like CLASS.  Our hope is that every school district in Oregon that wants to do this work has an avenue of funding and coaching available to them to do so.  To that end, we are seeking all relevant funding sources  - private, federal and state – to create broad based opportunity for school leaders. Chalkboard is currently accepting applications for CLASS design grants. Read the Request for Proposals.

The project began with a cohort of three districts, Sherwood, Tillamook and Forest Grove during the 2007-2008 school year. Another cohort of eight districts and one ESD joined the project during the 2009-2010 school year. The 2nd cohort districts are: Bend-La Pine, Crook County, High Desert ESD, Lebanon, Redmond, Salem-Keizer, Sisters, Vernonia. The Greater Albany Public School District joined the project in Fall 2010.

In September 2010, Chalkboard received a $13.2 million federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant to continue the work of the CLASS Project. The grant will fund work in Albany, Bend-La Pine, Crook County, Lebanon, Redmond, and Salem-Keizer. See a full list of TIF participating schools here or view a map of current CLASS and TIF districts. You can read more about the grant in Chalkboard’s press release.

In April 2011, the federal government increased Chalkboard’s TIF grant by $11.2 million for a total of $24.4 million. The additional funds are targeted to educator compensation in high-needs schools within the seven CLASS districts. Read more about the purpose of the new funds and Oregon legislators’ support of the CLASS Project in Chalkboard’s press release.

In August 2011, Chalkboard announced new design grants for Ashland, Lincoln County, Pendleton, Springfield, and South Lane. Vernonia and Sisters school districts will receive implementation dollars for the 2011-12 school year as well. Read the press release about the additional districts. Open Meadow Alternative Schools joined CLASS in December 2011.

What exactly is TIF and how does it work in conjunction with CLASS? Find out more details in our TIF FAQs.

School districts interested in participating in the CLASS Project are required to submit an application that includes the signature of the Superintendent, Union President, and School Board Chair.

Once a district is selected to participate, the district receives the financial support and consulting resources of the Chalkboard Project to begin a “Design Year.” During the “Design Year” the district brings together a team of teachers, administrators, union representatives, classified staff and school board members to develop plans to integrate expanded career paths, relevant professional development, effective performance evaluation, and new compensation models. The design teams work with experts in the field, look at what research says has worked elsewhere, and consider the unique needs of their particular district as they develop their models.

After the Design Year, the participating districts submit an application to Chalkboard to continue to partner for three implementation years (“Years 1-3”). Districts that receive implementation support are expected to demonstrate the financial and programmatic sustainability of their plans.

Each district’s plans are different, but they are all designed to strengthen effective teaching and raise student achievement.

Learn more about an individual district’s plans by choosing a district from the sidebar.