Although it is still grappling with implementation challenges, California's statewide Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program (BTSA) is a strong induction program, and has already been emulated by other states. Under BTSA, California provides a framework, technical assistance, and state funding to individual districts, which then have the flexibility to design their own local programs that best meet the needs of their schools and teachers. BTSA provides guidance and support to schools and districts for developing and implementing induction programs that nurture new teachers while also working to assess and improve their instructional effectiveness.

Districts, consortia of districts, or counties in California have the flexibility to develop their own programs that are based on California's 20 Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Professional Teacher Induction Programs. The standards are intended to help local planners design and implement their own induction programs. These programs are expected to meet the needs of local districts and schools, but they must undergo annual formative assessments and a summative assessment every four years. Any element of a local induction program found to be not meeting one of California's standards fully must improve within two years or face sanctions by the state.

The instructional performance of new teachers is also assessed. Using an instrument developed by the Educational Testing Service, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the California Department of Education, and directors of local BTSA programs for the state (used by 90 percent of local programs) or an alternative program, mentor teachers provide their mentees with regular feedback of their instructional effectiveness. In addition, a mentee must demonstrate progress toward meeting goals that they have developed with the help of their mentor as part of a personal development plan.

Sources: Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment
Programs. (July 1997.) State of California.

Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Programs.
(July 1997.) State of California. Kjelland, J. (October 10, 2002.) Personal communication
with Scott Joftus.

Kjelland, J. (October 10, 2002.) Personal communication with Scott Joftus.