CHOICE FAQs

For technical difficulties related to accessing the CHOICE Dashboard, participating on a discussion board or completing an assignment, please contact your CoP Facilitator first. For all other technical issues, please contact our CHOICE Policy and Implementation Manager, Amanda Adams, via email at amanda@vaedstrategies.org.

If the training has not yet been paid for, CHOICE project staff will simply cancel the request in the system. However, if registration and payment has already been submitted, you will be encouraged to find another CHOICE teacher to attend in your place. The cost of that training will be split between your CHOICE funding balance and that of the teacher who goes in your spot. (The teacher attending in your place must have a CHOICE funding balance that will cover this cost.) If no one else is able to attend in your place or the PL provider will not permit a change to/refund of the registration, the full cost of the training will be deducted from your CHOICE funding balance.

If the training has not yet been paid for, the CHOICE Project Team will simply cancel the request in the system once they receive notice from you.

However, if registration and payment has already been submitted, and the PL provider will not permit a change to/refund of the registration, the full cost of the training will be deducted from your CHOICE funding. Should the provider/university issue you a refund for registration/tuition fees that were originally covered with CHOICE funding, those funds will need to be returned to Virginia Ed Strategies.

In the event that you are unable to attend, please notify us via finance@vaedstrategies.org as soon as possible.

Teachers who are no longer able to participate in the CHOICE project should contact their CHOICE CoP Facilitator and/or a CHOICE project staff member via email. We hope to assist you in a way that allows you to continue if possible, but we understand that extenuating circumstances may arise.

Each CoP Facilitator will have be assigned approximately 80 teachers divided into two separate Communities of Practice (CoPs).

If a teacher is not regularly participating in meetings and activities, CoP Facilitators should reach out to the teacher to offer support. CoP Facilitators are encouraged to contact the CHOICE Instructional Specialist, Alicia Belcher (alicia@vaedstrategies.org), for assistance as needed.

The time commitment will vary depending on CHOICE activities and teacher needs, but we estimate that CoP Facilitators will spend approximately 25 hours per month on their project responsibilities. Details of the CHOICE tasks can be found in the Facilitator CoP. CHOICE project staff will provide templates and materials for Community of Practice meetings, discussion forums, monthly check-ins, etc. In addition to running a CoP for teachers, CoP Facilitators will also find and submit PL quarterly and engage in a Community of Practice specific to just Facilitators.

CoP Facilitators will collaborate with fellow Facilitators and Content Specialists in the Facilitator CoP and will have the opportunity to engage with all CHOICE participants in the CHOICE PLC. 

CoP Facilitators will be compensated $10,000 (paid in equal quarterly installments) for the year. CoP Facilitators may use the $10,000 for personal or professional use. However, the funding supporting the CHOICE project does not allow us to pay for Facilitator’s professional learning.

Any information related to teacher participation in CHOICE will be shared by CHOICE project staff only. CHOICE CoP Facilitators should not communicate with any of their teachers’ administrators. If you receive a request for information, please forward it directly to CHOICE Instructional Specialist, Alicia Belcher (alicia@vaedstrategies.org).

CoP Facilitators will assist approximately 80 science, math, computer science, and CTE teachers (divided into two CoPs) with various CHOICE activities and engage with teachers through virtual CoP meetings, open office hours, individual appointments, discussion forums, emails, and strategic feedback. Each CoP Facilitator will have considerable experience as a Virginia high school educator and/or in supporting and mentoring teachers. More details can be found HERE.

Details regarding the CHOICE CoP Facilitators’ roles, responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and how to apply can be found HERE.

The number of teachers each Content Specialist will serve varies depending on the number of CHOICE teachers who teach math, science, computer science, or CTE.

• Content Specialists will host monthly PLC meetings open to teachers in their content area. 
• Content Specialists will offer a one-hour open office window bi-weekly.
• Content Specialists will be available to offer individual support as needed (e.g. individual meetings, email responses, Canvas messages, announcements). 
• Content Specialists will facilitate teachers sharing and collaborating through discussion thread posts and responses. 

The time commitment will vary depending on CHOICE activities and teacher needs, but we estimate that Content Specialists will spend approximately 15 hours per month on their project responsibilities. Details of the CHOICE tasks can be found in the PLC. Content Specialists will plan, setup, create materials and host PLC meetings and will create and publish implementation prompts, content related announcements, and polling materials. Content Specialists will find and submit PL opportunities monthly and will also engage in a Community of Practice meetings with fellow Content Specialists and CoP Facilitators.

Content Specialists will collaborate with fellow Content Specialists and CHOICE CoP Facilitators in the Facilitator CoP and will have the opportunity to engage with all CHOICE participants in the CHOICE PLC. 

Content Specialists will be compensated $6,500 (paid in equal quarterly installments) for the year. CoP Facilitators may use the $6,500 for personal or professional use. However, the funding supporting the CHOICE project does not allow us to pay for Content Specialists’ professional learning.

CHOICE Content Specialists are asked NOT to communicate with administrators regarding teachers’ participation. If you receive a request for information, please forward it directly to CHOICE Instructional Specialist, Alicia Belcher (alicia@vaedstrategies.org).

Content Specialists will provide support to teachers that is specific to their designated content area (e.g. math, science, computer science, or CTE). Through virtual open office hours, individual appointments, guided discussions, and webinar-style events, Content Specialists will provide teachers with the specialized assistance they need related to their content area and professional needs. 

Content Specialists will have an advanced degree or a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in their field as well as considerable experience as a Virginia high school educator. More details can be found HERE.

Details regarding the CHOICE Content Specialists’ roles, responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and how to apply can be found HERE.

Each CHOICE teacher is expected to take a self-assessment prior to selecting professional learning opportunities. The self-assessment is a custom online survey aligned with  Virginia’s Uniform Performance Standards for Teachers  and is meant to help CHOICE teachers reflect on their practices and guide their decision-making . Teachers will discuss their results with CHOICE CoP Facilitators and peers in their CoP, and they are also welcome to share this information with their school administrators. As teachers set annual professional learning goals for each year, they are encouraged to consider not only the self-assessment results but also the needs of their students and the goals of their schools and divisions. Administrators can further support teachers’ planning and selection of appropriate PL opportunities by ensuring that teachers are aware of school improvement goals.

It is the goal of CHOICE to empower and support the professional growth of teachers, and the United States Department of Education (USED) has funded our work (and that of six other grantees nationwide) to research the impact of giving teachers autonomy in professional learning. While we understand that your school or division may have goals and initiatives in place that may require specific training, we wish to work with you to lessen the overall burden on teachers and give them as much autonomy as possible. The CHOICE project team will collaborate with each school to understand unique circumstances, set individual plans for participation, and determine the best path forward to success. Please reach out to Jennifer Stevens, CHOICE Project Director (jennifer@vaedstrategies.org) for more information.  

It is important that CHOICE teachers have administrator support in all aspects of the program. All professional learning opportunities in our Dashboard are of high quality and provided by providers already known and trusted by Virginia schools. The teacher is not expected to seek administrator approval prior to participating in a professional learning opportunity unless time off and/or a substitute is needed to attend the training during a normal school day. 

Instructional leaders will have the opportunity to participate in an Administrator Community of Practice for their own professional growth, to collaborate with colleagues statewide, and to support CHOICE Teachers’ participation in program activities and implementation of new strategies in their classrooms. 

Administrators may reach out to Darla Edwards, CHOICE School Engagement Facilitator (darla@vaedstrategies.org), or Jennifer Stevens, CHOICE Project Director (jennifer@vaedstrategies.org). 

Since CHOICE project staff are not involved in the evaluation of teachers, it is not necessary for administrators to share specific information about any teacher’s performance. If you would like to discuss ways our team can support your teachers’ growth and progress,  please feel free to contact the CHOICE Instructional Specialist, Alicia Belcher (alicia@vaedstrategies.org).

Teachers can continue to use the same process that they currently use to keep track of information needed for recertification points. CHOICE project staff will maintain attendance records of teacher participation in CHOICE activities, and teachers will upload documentation into the CHOICE Dashboard to verify their completion of professional learning opportunities paid for with CHOICE funds. These cumulative records will be available to teachers during their participation in CHOICE to assist them in sharing with administrators as needed.

CHOICE promotes teacher empowerment and growth, and while school administrators are expected to encourage eligible teachers to participate, it is important that teachers NOT be required to do so. 

CHOICE is being externally evaluated by ICF International, an experienced team of professionals who have specific expertise in program evaluation. The evaluation will consist of a Fidelity of Implementation study as well as an Impact study, and all reports resulting from the evaluation will be made available to school leaders and other stakeholders. The CHOICE project team will also provide regular updates about activities and early findings throughout the project period.

At this time, CHOICE funds are not budgeted to pay for the cost of substitutes when teachers need to be out of the classroom for their selected professional learning opportunities. When the school or division elects to pay for a substitute, the cost will be counted as an in-kind contribution to the CHOICE project which helps us meet the 10% required match for the EIR grant. Because CHOICE teachers have the ability to select and attend PL from a variety of options (both in person and virtual as well as during or outside of the normal school day), in many cases, substitutes may not be needed for participation in CHOICE. 

Our CHOICE Dashboard Menu of professional learning opportunities is updated regularly to provide a variety of options for teachers throughout the year. We welcome you to share recommendations of high-quality, trusted providers and/or specific training that should be added to our menu by contacting Amanda Adams (amanda@vaedstrategies.org).  

Our CHOICE Dashboard Menu of professional learning opportunities is updated regularly to provide a variety of options for teachers throughout the year. We welcome you to share recommendations of high-quality, trusted providers and/or specific training that should be added to our menu by contacting Amanda Adams (amanda@vaedstrategies.org).  

Participating divisions and schools will be featured on our website on the CHOICE Schools page. Project staff will share the finalized list of teachers participating in CHOICE at the beginning of each cohort and will keep school leaders informed of changes throughout the year.

Participating divisions and schools will be featured on our website on the CHOICE Schools page. Project staff will share the finalized list of teachers participating in CHOICE at the beginning of each cohort and will keep school leaders informed of changes throughout the year.

If you have additional questions or would like to speak with someone about having your school or division participate in CHOICE, please contact CHOICE School Engagement Facilitator, Darla Edwards (darla@vaedstrategies.org) or CHOICE Project Director, Jennifer Stevens (jennifer@vaedstrategies.org). 

Administrator support is critical to teachers’ participation and progress in the CHOICE project as well as their implementation of new strategies in the classroom that will lead to a positive impact on student achievement. We invite each school and division to have instructional leaders engage in the CHOICE Administrator CoP, collaborate with colleagues statewide, and communicate regularly with CHOICE teachers to understand their individual needs.