TAX-AIDE TRS SMT Update Matt Grogan CO-1 TRS Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 1

TAX-AIDE TRS Topics ● Training Material Highlights ● Instructor Workshop ● Immersion ● Immersion Demo Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 2

TAX-AIDE NTTC Training Highlights ● New Material on OneSupport Reorganized into 8 categories ● Volunteer Definition Apprentice, Intermediate, Master ● More/Better Webinars ● New Bogart calculator (Education) Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 3

TAX-AIDE New NTTC Materials ● Workbook for TY2015 (150 pgs) 15 practice returns Quizzes and ACA/Filing status exercises Print version – available through portal fulfillment in October (v2 on OneSupport) Answers and errata now available ● NTTC ppt Training Slides – first release mid October on OneSupport (tailor them!) Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 4

TAX-AIDE OneSupport Tax Training Categories ● Scope ● Policy/Tax Law ● Instructor Plans & Aids ● Materials/Presentations ● Tools ● ACA Training ● NTTC Webinars ● TWO Immersion Training Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 5

TAX-AIDE Volunteer Definition ● Apprentice (Level 1) New volunteers 2 nd year volunteers (perhaps) ● Intermediate (Level 2) Those who have learned the fundamentals, but haven’t been trained on the Everything Else in-scope tax law ● Master (Level 3) Trained on all applicable tax law The experts who mentor others and handle the more difficult returns 6 Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting

TAX-AIDE Individualized Training Plans ● Lesson Plans for the pertinent topics for Apprentices Intermediates Masters ● A journey with TWO Immersion as the prime engine TWO Immersion Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 7

TAX-AIDE Other Training ● COD for residence (if extended) and HSA will be self-train and certify via IRS Link & Learn ● New IRS Intake/Quality Review test for Counselors Client Facilitators do not need to take test, but should have awareness training on both processes Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 8

TAX-AIDE NTTC Webinars ● Aug TWO Immersion – Aug 9, 21 ● Sept General* items – Sept 23, 25 ● Oct Immersion – Oct 7, 9 ● Oct General* items – Oct 21, 23 (tent) *ACA, Scope, Instructor Workshops, etc Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 9

TAX-AIDE IRS Training Material Highlights (See IRS Fact Sheet for 2016) ● P4012, P4491: Available on irs.gov Oct 2 Order print versions fr CAPs after Oct 2 Unbound, 3 hole punched, 1” ring, tabs, no binder, shrink wrapped ● P4491-W (2014) available electronically only ● L&L and Practice lab available early Nov ● New p5088 Site Coordinator Training ppts Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 10

TAX-AIDE CO-1 Instructor Workshop ● Dec 8, 9 at Lakewood Holiday Inn Webinar for D-15 ● Train the trainers – help Instructors improve their knowledge and skills ● How-to Demos of Immersion training plans and templates, bring computers ● Get all Instructors certified Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 11

TAX-AIDE Instructor Tax Law Certification ● SPEC->TRS->Instructors->Students->SPEC by 2/1 ● Use L&L, bring copy of f13615 to Dec Workshop, TRS sign, return ● New Intake/Interview/QR and Advanced tests required by IRS, HSA desirable for all Instructors ● Use Practice Lab TWO for complex test Qs ● L&L, PL available early November ● Site Coordinator certificate desirable ● Minimum of 4 NTTC Practice Problems recommended for all counselors, tailored to student Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 12

TAX-AIDE Immersion ● Training Approach ● Training Plans ● Immersion Components ● Templates Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 13

TAX-AIDE Why Change Training??? ● Accommodate increasing tax law complexity ● Make training more efficient ● Increase volunteer satisfaction with training experience ● Make training more satisfying for Instructors Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 14

TAX-AIDE Immersion Terms ● Lesson plan ● Template/Piggybacking ● Wingman ● Mentor Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 15

TAX-AIDE Key Immersion Components ● Judicious/minimal use of lecture ● Lesson planning ● Students use TWO during lessons ● Use of Templates (or piggybacking) ● Mentoring ● Pre-reads ● Student feedback & evaluation Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 16

TAX-AIDE Immersion Survey Results (Instructor perspective, Q9) ● 82% Positive comments fr 380 responses ● Many cited improved training and student knowledge level, more enjoyable to teach ● Negatives influenced by TWO difficulties Poor understanding of the concept Insufficient training and experience with templates “Old Dogs not liking new tricks” Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 17

TAX-AIDE Immersion Survey Results (Student Perspective, Q10) ● Liked Hands on approach ● Don’t have to fill in MIS for every problem ● Liked Practice problems vs Comprehensive ● Templates generally viewed as helpful ● Mentors and Wingman a success ● TWOI was rewarding, engaging Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 18

TAX-AIDE Advantages of Immersion (Les Jones) ● Higher level of student satisfaction ● More students passing IRS cert test ● Tighter selection of Instructor candidates by TCs ● Better understanding of TWO as well as tax law ● Improved Instructor morale Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 19

TAX-AIDE Key Immersion Materials OS/Tax Training/TWO Immersion Training) ● Series II Lesson Plans 23 Lessons using 6 Templates Plus Electronic Resources Lesson New volunteer 6 day schedule Returning Counselor 2 ½ day schedule ● 6 Templates available on TWO/Training for all CO EFINs Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 20

TAX-AIDE Immersion Templates ● We use them now, extending them for training scenarios is the new concept ● NTTC has created 6 based on Kerry/Kent problem to support Series II lessons ● Creating or editing them is easy ● Assigning to users takes some practice ● Local help available, can use OS requests Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 21

TAX-AIDE Training Questions… Comments… Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 22

TAX-AIDE Backup Slides Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 23

TAX-AIDE Why Mentoring ● Provides first impression of the program ● Future as an Instructor? ● Gain additional knowledge & skills as a counselor ● Enhances instruction for student ● Helps the Instructor Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 24

TAX-AIDE Training Goals ● Preparers will have: Completed 4 practice problems from NTTC Workbook Been taught at least one subject/lesson from SII NTTC lesson plans using TWOI ● Districts complete self-assessment of TWOI status and plan to satisfy TY2017 goal of full TWOI Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 25

TAX-AIDE 4 Problems Goal Ideas ● Practice Problems assigned based on students needs/capabilities or self chosen ● Provide answers YES/NO ● Mentors check results to detect shortcuts (e.g. overrides?) or honor system ● Problems done in class with mentor involvement or independently (e.g. home?) ● Record completion before site activation Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 26

TAX-AIDE Teach One TWOI Lesson ● Pick one Series II lesson plan w template and teach it (18/23 choices) ● Use resources, mentors, quizzes ● Coaching available (templates,teaching) ● Districts demo their lesson, learn from each other, at Dec Workshop ● Try it, you and students might like it!! Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 27

TAX-AIDE TWOI Assessment ● Use list of TWOI Key Immersion Components) as binary evaluation (Y/N) ● Provide yearly goals of teaching more subjects using TWOI components ● Use your own format or I can provide spreadsheet ● Provide to SC at end of season Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 28

TAX-AIDE Training Plans ● Question for each Instructor team – what do your volunteers need to know to service your taxpayers Fundamentals Other applicable in-scope Changes – year-over-year 29 Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting In-scope Tax Law Fundamentals Not Applicable Everything Else

TAX-AIDE Training Approach #2 ● Blended Learning Volunteers who can self-study  Do not have time for extensive classroom work  Geographic challenges for classroom setting Classroom Requirements  Course Introduction  TaxWise Introduction  Tax-Aide Policies and Procedures Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 30  Standards of Conduct  Interview Techniques  Quality Review

TAX-AIDE Kinds of Training ● Classroom ● Self study ● On-the-Job ● Supplemental Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 31

Regions and NTTC Members Oct 2015 CO-1 SMT Meeting 32