Investing in Excellence - Elevating Teacher Effectiveness for Student Success in Beech Grove City Schools

Oct 15, 2026

Research brief detailing how Beech Grove City Schools (BGCS) used a federal Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Program grant in ABLE to elevate educator excellence and student performance. It describes the district context, including staffing instability and prior achievement gaps, and explains the TAP System’s four success elements: career pathways, ongoing applied growth, instructional accountability, and performance-based compensation. Evidence and early grant findings summarize progress in effectiveness, retention, and student outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Beech Grove City Schools

TAP System

Evidence of the Impact of the TAP System

Findings

Finding 1: Increase the Percentage of Effective Teachers

# Investing in Excellence:Elevating TeacherEffectiveness for Student Success inBeech Grove City Schools Research BriefFall 2024 ## Background In the fall of 2021,Beech Grove City Schools(BGCS)was awarded a federal Teacher and School Leader(TSL)Incentive Program grant called Accelerating Beech Grove Learning through Equity(ABLE).TheABLE project is strengthening BGCS's human capital management system and creating opportunities forprofessional growth using the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement(TAP System).Theoverarching goal of the project is to raise educator excellence and student performance.Through theABLE project,BGCS is working with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching(NIET)to recognizeand compensate effective educators through providing performance-based compensation,offeringeducators career pathways,addressing learning gaps by improving classroom instruction,and buildingsupportive school cultures.This research brief examines the progress made in enhancing educatoreffectiveness,retaining effective educators,and improving student performance during the first twoyears of the grant. ## Beech Grove City Schools Beech Grove City Schools,located in the Indianapolis,Indiana,metropolitan area,serves a population ofabout 15,000 residents from around 6,100 households(National Center for Education Statistics,n.d.).The district enrolls about 2,800 students,with roughly one-third being students of color and about 70%eligible for free or reduced-price meals (Indiana Department of Education,n.d.).The district has about180 full-time equivalent teachers and school leaders across five schools(National Center for EducationStatistics,n.d). In the years prior to receiving the grant,BGCS lost many teachers toretirement resulting in an average teacher experience of less than eightyears.Additionally,about 55%of all teachers and two-thirds ofelementary teachers had less than ten years of experience,comparedto the statewide figure of 42%.This younger teacher workforcecontributed to a consistently high turnover rate,averaging 17%over thethree years before receiving the grant.The teacher retention rate forBGCS was a few percentage points below the average for traditionalschool districts in Indiana.The instability and inexperience within theteacher workforce had an impact on student performance.In the yearprior to receiving the grant(the 2020-21 school year),the percentageof BGCS students performing at proficient level or above was about 19percentage points below Indiana students statewide on the grades 3-8math assessments and about 14 percentage points below on theEnglish/Language Arts(ELA)assessments.Recognizing the need to address these challenges,BGCS sought to develop and provide continuous support to all teachers andretain them within the district through enhancing their implementation of the TAP System. "It has been inspiring to witness beautiful alignment of once fragmented improvementstrategies through our engagement with NIET.A recent needs assessment conducted byNIET provided us with affirming insights that celebrated the already strong practices inplace while simultaneously challenging us to go deeper.NIET is a catalyst for moving ourdistrict from procedural to conceptual thinking and learning.” Dr.Laura Hammack,Superintendent NIET NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING ## TAP System The TAP System is an educator effectiveness model to assist school and district leaders to attract,develop,motivate and retain high-quality educators through its four elements of success:multiple careerpaths,ongoing applied professional growth,instructionally focused accountability,and performance-based compensation.The TAP System promotes teacher collaboration,improves instructional practice,and builds the school leadership capacity to improve student achievement.For further information aboutthe TAP System,please visit the TAP System webpage. ## Evidence of the Impact of the TAP System NIET's TAP Sys

FAQs

What is the ABLE project and what is its main goal for BGCS?

ABLE is a federal Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program grant awarded to BGCS. Its main goal is to raise educator excellence and improve student performance through strengthening human capital management and professional growth opportunities using the TAP System.

What are the four core elements of the TAP System described in the brief?

The brief states the TAP System includes multiple career pathways, ongoing applied professional growth, instructionally focused accountability, and performance-based compensation. It is designed to support collaboration, improve instructional practice, and build school leadership capacity.

What evidence does the brief cite regarding TAP System impact?

The brief reports studies showing increases in educator effectiveness, educator retention, and student performance during both grant implementation and sustained periods. It also notes long-term impacts for students who experience TAP System supports, including improved educational attainment and reduced negative outcomes in early adulthood.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery