Requirements of Network Membership

There are two ways to become a UTRU partner: successful completion of the quality benchmarks of the Residency for Residencies Program (RRP), or successful completion of our extensive quality assessment for existing programs. In either case a program must strive to meet our Quality Standards and Rubrics, agree to participate in network-wide assessment and evaluation, and contribute to the continued learning of the network.

More about the RRP

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The RRP is an action-oriented program that works with teams from school districts, not-for-profits and institutions of higher education to develop and implement the specific design elements at the core of a truly effective UTR. During the institute series, teams come together to learn as a cohort, forging partnerships that serve as a critical resource for ongoing analysis and improvement. In between institutes, individual sites work with UTRU staff advisors to develop, modify and strengthen specific aspects of program startup.

The Institute Series

The subject matter for the institute series is organized into six key content areas, as outlined by UTRU’s Quality Standards for the design of effective Urban Teacher Residencies.

Throughout the first year of the RRP, each institute session culminates in the drafting of a work product—a key organizational step that helps teams expand on the subject matter and acts as a critical building block for their emerging programs. In the time between sessions, teams finalize and submit these work products, receiving feedback from UTRU staff with relevant expertise. By the end of the first year, the accumulation of finished work products provides each team with the foundation they need to launch their Residency programs from a position of strength.

Year 2 of the RRP provides teams the opportunity to refine and adjust specific design elements of their emerging programs. Teams bring formative assessment data from their sites to analyze pressing dilemmas, problem-solve and make real-time revisions to their Residencies.

Collaborative Learning

The RRP institute series offers participants a unique learning experience. Each institute includes structured time for participants to work with UTRU staff, collaborate with cohort members, learn from existing programs and work with their individual teams. The location of the institutes rotates between the cities of existing Residency programs so that program participants can observe established Residencies in action and learn from their particular areas of expertise. At each site, participants have the opportunity to talk with experienced program staff, Residents and mentors, and to explore program materials and templates.

Individualized Support

Throughout the RRP, UTRU provides tailored support services to address the specific needs and dynamics of each developing program. This individual site advisement may include follow-up work from a recent institute, addressing local implementation challenges, developing comprehensive fundraising strategies or reviewing and co-developing a program’s course sequence.

Ongoing Support, Advocacy & Evaluation

Upon graduation from the RRP, programs in the UTRU Network enjoy the ongoing benefits of partnership with the nation’s fastest growing alliance of Urban Teacher Residencies.

More about the Quality Assessment

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UTRU is currently developing a Quality Assessment toolkit for potential and current partners that maps program components to the UTRU Quality Standards.  The Quality Assessment will be used to assess non-RRP partners for entranceway into the network and may be used as a reflection and evaluation tool for existing partners.

The Quality Assessment will include program self-assessment; environmental scan; interviews with key program personnel, all key partners, and relevant district and school personnel; review of sustainability plans; as well as other indicators.

UTRU will form a development team with experts in urban residencies, existing programs, and program evaluation, to create the Assessment tool.  We will pilot the Quality Assessment in 2011 with a set of emerging programs and will solicit input from our network partners.

UTRU Friends are organizations committed to transforming teacher preparation in urban districts.  They can be residency programs, socially innovative non-profit organizations, policy and advocacy organizations, teacher preparation programs, etc.

If you are interested in becoming a Friend to UTRU, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

UTRU engages with organizations who believe we can change the way teachers are selected, prepared, and supported in high needs school districts; that teachers are the key to impacting student achievement; and that states and districts can revise teacher quality policy to support and encourage comprehensive human capital reform.

If you are interested UTRU’s work and believe your organization goals align to ours, please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to be connected with our program and policy staff. Together we can empower, professionalize, and support teachers so they can concentrate on the next generation.