As part of the effort to support local school systems in meeting the challenge of having all students pass the High School Assessments, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is again offering four Governor’s Academies which focus on Algebra/Data Analysis, Biology, Government, and English.
Please note one IMPORTANT change that is necessary due to this year’s budget cuts. Local school districts will now be responsible for funding the cost of substitutes for the follow-up sessions scheduled as part of the academy. We alerted Assistant Superintendents of this possibility earlier in the year.
The goals of the 2009-2010 Governor’s Academies are to help teachers strengthen content knowledge, expand and develop strategies for raising student achievement, as well as to provide a network of teachers dedicated to ensuring that all students meet the High School Assessment requirements. The Governor’s Academy for each curriculum will use several regional sites around the state. Academies will run from four to eight days during the summer with follow-up days during the school year. Since the activities in the program are designed to encourage participants to support one another in teaching the core learning goals for each curricular area, participants are strongly encouraged to apply as a team. Possible combinations of no more than three to four participants from the same school might include: multiple content area teachers, content area teachers and special educators, content area teachers and an ESOL teacher, or content area teachers and building resource teachers. In addition, we will be asking principals to assist participants in identifying coaches at the school site to provide regular and ongoing feedback as it pertains to instructional improvement. We continue to try and strengthen the coaching component because of the importance and value of regular and ongoing feedback during professional development.
Attached are applications for each curricular area Governor’s Academy. We are asking your assistance in distributing these applications to the appropriate staff. Teachers who would like to participate in one of the academies must complete an application and submit it to the appropriate MSDE content coordinator as directed on the application.