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North Coast Beginning Teacher Program
A quality support system for all beginning teachers and
a caring, competent and highly qualified teacher for every child.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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11. What is CSTP?
1. What is the North Coast Beginning Teacher Program?
The North Coast Beginning Teacher Program (NCBTP) is a regional consortium comprised of county offices of education, universities, and hundreds of school districts and charter schools throughout Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Solano, and Sonoma counties. Return to Top |
2. What is the BTSA Program?
The Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program provides beginning teachers with a situated learning, state-approved induction program. All teachers need to take part in a state-approved induction program to fulfill the requirements of the professional credential. Utilizing a locally designed formative assessment system, beginning teachers focus on the process of teaching with the assistance of a local support provider. Based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP), support for the beginning teacher is specific and evidence-based. Attention to learning environment, content standards, formative assessment, reflective practice, and collaboration allows the beginning teacher to focus on what and how the students are learning. Return to Top |
3. What is the Intern Program?
Interns are teachers who are fully employed, but who have not obtained a preliminary teaching credential. They have met subject matter competency and are enrolled in a university intern program, but have not completed student teaching*. The support offered includes an assigned support provider, additional university supervision, and workshops in basic teaching strategies. Return to Top |
4. What is the Paraprofessional Program?
The North Coast Paraprofessional Teacher Training Program (NCPTTP) offers support to paraprofessionals who are committed to obtaining a teaching credential. The program helps districts and county offices of education meet the demand for credentialed teachers, especially in hard-to-staff areas, by "growing their own" from among the ranks of their paraprofessional staff. The program serves districts and county offices of education in seven counties in our region. Return to Top |
5. How do we enroll or get more information?
Each school district in the consortium has selected a district coordinator. District coordinators enroll their teachers in the program, then forward all of the necessary forms and paperwork to the county coordinator in their area. For more information, please contact us. Return to Top |
6. Is there a cost to enroll in the Beginning Teacher Program?
The North Coast Beginning Teacher Program is a state-approved and state-funded program. Each district works with the NCBTP in a partnership to provide services and support to their beginning teachers. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is developed delineating the roles, responsibilities, and in-kind contributions from each district. There is a $50 per person registration fee. Return to Top |
7. Who supports the beginning teacher?
A "support provider" is selected by each district to work with the beginning teacher through a two- to three-year cycle. Support providers are compensated for their work with beginning teachers. The support provider must:
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8. Must the support provider work at the same school?
Scheduling support is easier if the beginning teacher and support provider are at the same site; however, this is not required. It is also not necessary for the support provider to teach in the same content area or grade level, but experience at a similar grade level is an asset. Support is focused on teaching practices and student learning. Content-specific support should be available from other grade-level experts or department heads. Some districts have employed retired teachers to serve as support providers or have provided partial or full-time release to teachers who serve as support providers. In these situations, the NCBTP recommends no more than 12 beginning teachers per support provider. Return to Top |
9. What if we can't find support providers in our district?
Your district may work with nearby districts or your county office of education to find support providers. Return to Top |
10. Can a support provider be a PAR consulting teacher?
Yes. In fact, this makes a great deal of sense in very small school districts or consortiums. If full-time released support providers are used, BTSA recommends no more than 12 beginning teachers per full-time support provider. Return to Top |
11. What is CSTP?
CSTP is an acronym for California Standards for the Teaching Profession (get pdf file). CSTP consists of a set of six standards that are intended to guide teachers as they define and develop their practice. The standards are organized around six interrelated categories of teaching practice: 1) engaging and supporting all students in learning, 2) creating and maintaining effective environments for student learning, 3) understanding and organizing subject matter for student learning, 4) planning instruction and designing learning experiences for all students, 5) assessing student learning, and 6) developing as a professional educator. Return to Top
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