Glossary of Terms:

APPR - Annual Professional Performance Review. BPS - Buffalo Public Schools. BTF - Buffalo Teachers Federation. Buy-back policies - Allows teachers to sell back-unused sick days in exchange for additional compensation. Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) - Contract agreement negotiated by representatives of the union and the school board. The agreement governs every school in the district. Thus, all schools within the district must operate under the exact same terms, inhibiting flexible approaches based on the unique nature of each school. Impact negotiations - Occur when the union makes a demand to negotiate over the impact of a decision by the school board. Last In First Out (LIFO) - A teacher of greater seniority than another cannot be laid off before the junior teacher, regardless of performance or any other factor. Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) - Is an agreement reached between two parties outside of the original contract (BPS and BTF). NYSUT - New York State United Teachers. Professional Development - An opportunity to develop the skill of staff members. Race to the Top (RTTT) - A federally designed and mandated system that initiates a competitive grant process among states aimed at promoting progressive and effective policies at the statewide level, and providing targeted resources for turning around failing schools. Restart Model One of four federal turnaround models used as a means of improving failing schools. This model involves partnering with a charter group or other non-profit independent operator to reopen the school with greater independence from the district. Seniority The number of years a teacher has worked in the district for. More senior teachers are afforded job stability at the expense of less senior teachers when layoffs occur. Taylor Law - gives all public employees, including teachers and other school

personnel, the right to organize and bargain collectively. Teacher Evaluations - measures the effectiveness of a teacher in performing his or her job. Tenure - A status achieved after a brief probationary period that provides safeguards and protections to a teachers position. Transformation Model One of four federal turnaround models used as a means of improving failing schools. This model requires the district to replace only the principal at a failing school. Triborough Amendment - when a contract expires without a new contract being negotiated the terms of the expired contract govern until a new agreement is reached. Turn-around Model One of four federal turnaround models used as a means of improving failing schools. This model involves replacing the principal of a failing school, and at least 50% of the schools staff. Work Rules - are work condition rules defined in the teaching contract including: strict scheduling principles, limitations on class sizes, mandatory classroom equipment requirements, preference of assignments based on seniority, etc.