Program Purpose

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Induction Program (BTSA) is a state-funded program, co-sponsored by the California Department of Education and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) designed to support the professional development of newly-credentialed, beginning teachers and fulfill the requirements for the California Clear Multiple and Single Subjects Credential. Ultimately, the program is also designed to increase student achievement, retain well-trained and effective credentialed teachers and improve implementation of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and California K-12 Academic Content Standards in district classrooms. Mt. Diablo Unified School District's program is locally designed and implemented in accordance with the Standards for Quality and Effectiveness for Professional Teacher Induction Programs and is accredited by the CCTC to recommend candidates for a Clear Credential after successful completion of the two-year process.

Program Design

Mt. Diablo Unified School District's BTSA Induction Program is a two-year, job embedded process. Each Participating Teacher is teamed with a fully-released classroom teacher (Peer Coach). Together the Peer Coach and Participating Teacher collaboratively work through a series of learning experiences based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. Throughout the two year process, Participating Teachers are given many opportunities to reflect upon their teaching and become consciously aware of effective instructional and management practices with the assistance and guidance of their assigned Peer Coach.

Formative Assessment

Mt. Diablo Unified School District's BTSA Induction Program uses the California Formative Assessment and Support System for Teachers (CFASST). Utilizing CFASST (a series of 12 events-six covered in Year 1 and six covered in Year 2) and with the assistance of their Peer Coach, Participating Teachers plan lessons, teach lessons, collect and analyze student work, and reflect upon the effectiveness of their lessons based on student achievement. Throughout the action research of the CFASST events, Participating Teachers choose two focus students each year on whom to focus more specifically. Selecting two focus students aids the Participating Teachers in building a concrete understanding of differentiated instruction and assessment that enables them to meet the needs of all students.

Support : Peer Coaches

Each MDUSD teacher who participates in the BTSA Induction Program receives personal, one-on-one support and guidance from a highly trained Peer Coach.Each Peer Coach is a skilled and experienced classroom teacher who has been selected to serve, full-time, as a mentor for beginning teachers. Peer Coaches' roles and responsibilities include:

Developing a supportive relationship with each Participating Teacher that is characterized by confidentiality and a non-evaluative focus on instructional practice and professional growth
Collaborating with other Peer Coaches and colleagues to assist with Participating Teacher support
Supporting Participating Teachers in implementing the formative assessment system, and developing a Professional Induction Portfolio which includes meeting with each Participating Teacher an average of at least one hour per week
Providing Participating Teachers assistance and feedback regarding their progress toward completing requirements for a Clear Credential recommendation

Program Contact Information

Rhys Miller
Program Specialist, BTSA Induction
(925)788-5373
(925)682-8000 ext.4043
millerr@mdusd.k12.ca.us

Important Dates