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Residency for Residencies Program
To address the growing national interest in Urban Teacher Residencies, UTRU and its founding partners developed the Residency for Residencies Program (RRP) — a two-year program that combines a series of intensive learning institutes and focused, individual consultation to help emerging programs design, develop and launch high-performing Residencies.
How It Works
The RRP is an action-oriented program that works with teams from school districts, not-for-profits and universities 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 consultants 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.
- 1. UTR Program Management
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- Strong partnership between a high-needs district, an institution of higher education and other eligible partners
- Designated lead partner
- Sustainable funding model
- Commitment to local assessment and evaluation
- Transparent, legally binding agreements between the UTR and all Residency participants
- 2. Resident Recruitment & Selection
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- Alignment with district goals
- Integrated approach to recruitment
- Rigorous and competitive selection process
- 3. Mentor Recruitment, Selection
& Training -
- Integrated approach to recruitment
- Rigorous and competitive selection process
- High-quality PD for mentors
- Mentor assessment and accountability
- 4. Residency Year
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- Rigorous Resident learning standards
- Rigorous and aligned coursework
- Intensive classroom apprenticeship
- Dynamic application of the gradual release of responsibility model
- Resident assessment and accountability
- 5. Strategic Placement of Residents
& Graduates -
- Placement of Residents in training sites
- Placement of graduates in high-need schools
- Grouping of Residents and graduates in cohorts
- 6. Post-Residency
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- Integrated induction coach selection
- High-quality PD for induction coaches
- School-based one-on-one induction coaching
- Ongoing professional learning community
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 and consultants 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 consult 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 consultation may include follow-up work from a recent institute, addressing local implementation challenges, developing comprehensive fundraising strategies or reviewing and codeveloping 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 Ongoing Support, Advocacy & Evaluation
©2010 Urban Teacher Residency United
