Twenty-one applicants have received preliminary notification that they have been awarded more than $11 million through the Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Dissemination Grant: Principal Leadership (STLE-D) Program. Grant recipients will use the funding to provide professional development to current principals and teacher leaders on principal pathways and to enhance programs that focus on teacher and leader effectiveness. Successful applicants include school districts, BOCES, one public charter school, and consortia of districts and BOCES that, in total, serve more than 220,000 students.

Since 2012, New York State has provided funding, through three separate rounds of Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness (STLE) grants, to help schools and districts take a comprehensive approach to the recruitment, development, support, retention and equitable distribution of great teachers and leaders. STLE focuses on activities that ensure rigorous implementation of teacher and principal evaluations (APPR) and the use of APPR results to advance teachers and principals into "career ladder" roles where they can have more influence over, and impact on, student learning and educator effectiveness. STLE grants and activities are supported, in whole or in part, by New York State's Race to the Top federal funds.

"We have said all along that teacher and principal evaluations aren't about creating a 'gotcha' system; they're about improving the teaching and learning that goes on in our classrooms," said Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch. "These STLE grants will help ensure that districts and BOCES use evaluations the right way - by embedding their APPR processes into a comprehensive system that continually improves teacher and leader effectiveness."

"These grants reinforce the Board of Regents' commitment to the goal that every student is in a classroom led by a great teacher in a school led by a great principal," said Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. "STLE is a direct investment in districts across the State that strive to use the great talent available in their schools to ensure the continuous growth of students and educators. With this latest round of grants, nearly one-third of all school districts and BOCES in New York now have additional resources to help make that a reality."

STLE-D represents the final round of STLE funding. The grants are targeted to support the dissemination of promising and/or successful principal practices and programs found in existing STLE districts. STLE-D will allow the 21 preliminary awardees, comprised of 45 STLE districts, five STLE BOCES, and 1 STLE public charter school to share their successful innovations in a collaborative endeavor with 39 districts and one BOCES that have not previously been involved with and/or awarded an STLE grant. Final grant awards are contingent on the review and approval of the Office of the State Comptroller.

A map of grantees from all three STLE cohorts and STLE-D

Below are reflections on the STLE program from previous STLE award winners. These grantees will not only continue their work, but will also share successful practices through their participation in STLE-D.

"The Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness 3 Grant has provided the South Glens Falls Central School District with the opportunity to provide our teachers and administrators with the resources that are necessary to focus on improving our curriculum and expanding the instructional strategies that are required by the new Common Core Learning Standards. During these challenging fiscal times, our district would not be able to offer this support for student learning without the support of this grant. South Glens Falls is looking forward to the positive results that this investment will have on student learning and achievement."  - Michael Patton, Superintendent of Schools, South Glens Falls Central School District

"STLE 2 funds have allowed our districts to enhance the level of support provided to teachers and leaders with implementing Common Core, data driven instruction and STEM. The career ladder initiative has enabled both teachers and leaders to be empowered to share their content and pedagogical expertise with colleagues, establishing a culture of shared ownership of district and building initiatives. Furthermore, the model of supports has helped with our district's ability to expand STEM initiatives and building programs at the high school level that will expose our students to college and career opportunities." - Dr. Jared Bloom, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Curriculum, South Huntington Union Free School District

"Improving teacher and leader effectiveness is the most critical factor to raising student achievement and improving the quality of education for Greece students. The STLE grant provided the resources to create a high quality leadership development program for teachers and school leaders to improve practice through quality implementation of the New York State reform agenda." - Barbara Deane-Williams, Superintendent of Schools, Greece Central School District