Individual Performance Plan Guidelines

PURPOSE

The purpose of an Individual Performance Plan (IPP) is to notify a PDS student that some aspect of his or her performance during an internship or apprentice teaching is unacceptable, and that the student is in jeopardy of failure. The IPP includes specific information to document the unacceptable performance, as well as a plan to guide the student towards effective performance.

ELEMENTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN

A well-written IPP will include each of the following elements:

1. Descriptions and Evidence of the Poor Performance.

   The IPP should include a detailed description of the professional skill(s) in need of improvement. The description should be very specific. For example, if the student is chronically tardy, state the number of days the student has been tardy. Include the cooperating teacher's concerns about the tardiness. This section of the IPP should include reference to previous notifications or discussions regarding the unacceptable performance.

2. Expected Performance/Target Goals

   Clearly state expectations for performance. The expectations may be comprised of a single expectation or a set of target goals. In one case of a student who repeatedly had been tardy to an internship, the cohort coordinator required that the intern be present in the mentor teacher's classroom ten minutes early every day for the next 2 weeks. The coordinator specifically stated that tardiness is unacceptable behavior and shows a disregard for professional responsibilities. Thus, the student needed to arrive early to demonstrate commitment to the profession.

   A student could be directly involved in the development of the first 2 elements of an Individual Performance Plan. The student could reflect upon the experiences leading up to the IPP and set goals (and action plans) for the professional growth related to those experiences. This part of the regular PDAS assessment plan given to most Texas teachers.

3. Target Dates

   Indicate the specific date by which a student must accomplish each expected performance or goal. The chronically tardy student was required to arrive ten minutes early for 2 weeks. Thereafter, that student was allowed to arrive less than 10 minutes early, subject to approval by her cooperating teacher.

4. Clear Statement of Consequences

   The IPP must include an unequivocal statement of the consequences for failing to achieve the stated goals or expectations for performance. In the case of the student who was chronically tardy, the student was informed that another tardy would result in removal from apprentice teaching. The student would be required to reapply to the PDS and repeat apprentice teaching another semester.

RECOMMENDED FOR COURSE SYLLABI

It might be a good idea to link the IPP to syllabi for EDC 371 (Guiding Young Children in Groups), EDC 331E (School Organization and Classroom Management), and EDC 950E (Elementary Grade Teaching Practicum). Course syllabi might include a statement such as:

Inadequate performance or professionalism during the field experience may result in the development of an Individual Performance Plan. The purpose of an IPP is to clearly identify any aspect of student performance that is unacceptable and to establish goals and target dates for improved performance. Failure to achieve the goals of an IPP could result in termination of the student's field experience.