BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment) is a statewide program that has been in place in California since 1992. It evolved from the California New Teacher Project from 1988 to 1991, where its success rate was phenomenal in terms of retaining new teachers, as well as helping them perform more effectively for a variety of students in their first years of teaching.
The Placer COE BTSA Induction Consortium is a collaborative effort between 16 school districts, the New Teacher Center at UCSC, and the Placer County Office of Education. This state funded BTSA induction program enables beginning teachers to make a smooth transition into the challenging responsibilities of teaching. The BTSA Induction Program increases the retention of beginning teachers and improves learning opportunities for their K-12 students by providing extensive support and professional development. BTSA Induction, established by the California Departments of Education and Commission on Teacher Credentialing, is based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. The formative assessment model developed and refined over a fifteen year period by the New Teacher Center at UCSC was adopted by the Placer COE BTSA Induction Consortium during the summer of 2003. This model is designed to promote the professional growth of individual teachers and is used by beginning teachers with the assistance of an experienced teacher who serves as a coach. This mentoring relationship between the beginning teacher and the coach is one of the most powerful components of this program.
Currently, we are funded on the basis of $3,249 per beginning teacher. This amount is utilized to provide professional development and a stipend to the Coaches.