Opportunity Culture

The Opportunity Culture model, developed by Public Impact, is designed to be adjusted to the unique needs of individual schools and districts. The model is primarily structured around multi-classroom leaders (MCLs), highly effective teachers who support teams of other teachers and support staff with lesson planning, data analysis, instructional support, and tutoring support. In most cases, MCLs continue to teach while observing, providing feedback, and coaching other teachers on their team to provide more effective instruction. As of 2023, Public Impact notes that more than 800 schools have implemented or committed to implementing the model, overwhelmingly in Title I schools.¹

The model helps schools do the following:

1. Reach more students with excellent teachers who lead teams of teachers.
   Effective teachers are able to reach more students directly or by leading teams of teachers. Opportunity Culture classifies “reach teachers” as those “who are formally accountable for the outcomes of extra students whom a teacher reaches via direct instruction (typically 33–50% more students) or who are taught by the teachers (s)he leads—typically no more than 2–8 teachers, plus assistants.”
2. Pay teachers more for extending their reach.
   Schools pay more to teachers who reach more students, with greater compensation for highly effective teachers.
3. Fund pay within regular budgets.
   For the model to be effective year to year, Opportunity Culture positions are supplemented through recurring, school-level budgets, not grants or other temporary means that can be easily eliminated. The supplements are fixed amounts for all teachers, rather than an additional percentage of a teacher’s salary, to promote budget certainty and ensure that districts can adequately forecast future costs associated with the model.
4. Provide protected in-school time for teachers reaching more students and clarity about how to use the time for planning, collaboration, and development.
   Teachers who lead teams or reach additional students are provided more time to plan, with several points during the week to collaborate, observe, and support their team. This time is strongly protected.
5. Match authority and accountability to each person’s responsibilities.
   An individual’s level and span of authority is reflective of their role, responsibilities, and accountability, meaning multiple educators can be designated the teacher of record to the same group of students.²

In addition to MCLs, the model offers two other teacher leadership roles: Team Reach Teachers and Reach Associates. The infographic below highlights how Public Impact defines each role.