November 2009
Classroom aides can become teachers through the state's Educational Aide Tuition Exemption Program.

Some districts find their best teachers in their own backyards

Texas’ Educational Aide Tuition Exemption program provides an incentive for aides complete their college courses and return to the classroom to teach.

City, state officials praise teacher housing project in Baltimore

A new affordable housing project helps the Baltimore City Public Schools roll out the red carpet for teachers by offering special amenities and a sense of community.

Teachers raise their game when they work with top-notch peers

A new study provides some of the first evidence to document a “spillover effect” in teaching, meaning that teachers improve when the quality of their colleagues improves.

Texas educator salaries lag national averages

Teacher and principal salaries lag those of their colleagues around the country. The same discrepancy can be seen in per-pupil spending.

New USDE interpretation of “highly qualified” status may require action

Texas HR administrators recently learned that some elementary teacher certification exams may not meet the highly qualified teacher requirements of NCLB.

Investigators learn of workers’ comp cheats through social networks

Workers’ compensation claims investigators are scouring social networking Web Sites to find evidence of claimants engaged in sports, active hobbies, and running businesses on the side.

Q&A

If you don’t know what the terms minimum wage, living wage, and prevailing wage mean and how (or whether) they apply to school districts, we can help!

HR Extras

Two new federal notices must be posted in the workplace...Commissioner rules that districts can change the contracts of noncertified administrators and professionals...and more.
 
Quick Poll
Does your district have a grow-your-own incentive program?



Inside HR Services
Go Inside HR Services to learn more about upcoming events for HR administrators, including a deadline extension for the submission of district personnel and extra-duty stipend data, an upcoming compensation symposium, and a popular January training session on staffing controls.
Upcoming Events
Get a Grip on the Family Medical Leave Act     November 12, 2009
ESC 9-Wichita Falls
Every leave request is unique, so how do you get a grip on all the rules for applying and processing family and medical leave? Using actual situations in exercises and case studies, participants will learn how to apply the 2009 FMLA regulations, identify potential problem areas, and develop procedures for administering family and medical leave. Scenarios related to standard FMLA, leave for qualifying exigency, and military caregiver leave will be used to discover answers to the most frequently asked family and medical leave questions.
Get a Grip on the Family Medical Leave Act    December 2, 2009
ESC 4-Houston
Every leave request is unique, so how do you get a grip on all the rules for applying and processing family and medical leave? Using actual situations in exercises and case studies, participants will learn how to apply the 2009 FMLA regulations, identify potential problem areas, and develop procedures for administering family and medical leave. Scenarios related to standard FMLA, leave for qualifying exigency, and military caregiver leave will be used to discover answers to the most frequently asked family and medical leave questions.

Insert New Event Below