1. Teacher Evaluation in CT SCSU EDU 200 Professor M. Bless

2. 19 th Century Blog How should teachers be evaluated?

3. Rules for Teachers, Circa 1900 You will not marry during the term of your contract. You are not to keep company with men. You must be home between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM unless at a school function. You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have permission from the chairman of the school board. You may not ride in carriages or automobiles with any man except your father or brother. You may not smoke cigarettes or dress in bright colors. You may under no circumstances dye your hair. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if they attend church regularly. To keep the classroom neat and clean you must sweep the floor once a day, scrub the floor with hot soapy water once a week, clean the blackboards once a day and start the fire at 7 AM to have the school warm by 8 AM when the scholars arrive.

4. “Teacher quality maters… a great deal. If we are committed to the premise, then we must be committed to populating our schools with the highest quality teacher possible.” Stronge et al. (2006) “The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers.” Barber & Mourshed (2007) “Of all the factors within our control in the educational enterprise, teacher quality matters most.” Stronge (2010)

5. Challenges with Current Practices Varied effectiveness of evaluation instruments Evaluations are based on a fraction of teaching time Instruction during observation may not reflect typical classroom practice Inadequate administrator training for observation look-fors and how to give effective feedback Administrators do not always feel comfortable addressing poor or mediocre teaching The process can sometimes shut down adult learning Source: Marshall (2009) & Stronge (2010)

6. Challenges with Current Practices: The Widget Effect “... evaluators in all districts still rate the majority of teachers in the top category, rather than assigning the top rating to only those teachers who actually outperform the majority of their peers.” Weisberg, Sexton, Mulhern, & Keeling (2009)

7. The Widget Effect Weisberg, Sexton, Mulhern, & Keeling (2009) Chicago Public Schools Teacher Ratings 03-07 Chicago Public Schools 03-07

8. Observation-Only Measures: Offer a limited, often artificial view of teacher effectiveness Assess classroom, but not other responsibilities Focus on teaching processes, but not products Are an inspection approach to evaluation Have limited validity based on the skill of the observer(s) Source: Stronge & Tucker (2005)

9. The Way It Should Be Principals and teachers have shared understanding of what good teaching looks like Principals get into classrooms frequently and see typical instruction Principals provide meaningful feedback on effective practices and improvement opportunities Teachers understand, accept and use the feedback to improve instruction Source: Marshall (2009)

10. The Way It Should Be: Multiple Measures Produce a richer textured & more complete portrait of performance Collect data in more naturally occurring situations Integrate primary & secondary data sources in the evaluation Assure greater reliability in documenting performance Enhance objectivity in documenting performance Document performance that is more closely related to actual work Offer a more legally defensible basis for evaluation

11. Essential Message #1 If our teacher evaluation systems include the multiple inputs that we know generate teacher growth, then, we will have a system that, over time, will ensure teacher’s professional growth and improved student outcomes.

12. Essential Message #2 If our teacher evaluation systems are designed to provide opportunities for teachers to learn and grow instead of focusing on removal of poor performing teachers, then, we will have a system that, over time, will ensure improved teacher performance and improved student outcomes.

13. Effects of Support and Challenge on Teacher Development Retreat Growth Status QuoConfirmation Support lowhigh Challenge high low Barber, 2003 Mckinsey Global Ed Practice

14. Teacher Evaluation in CT Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) Group of CT Stakeholder Groups who have been meeting since September of 2010 on the development of SDE Guidelines for Teacher and Principal Evaluation Established and released guidelines (two pager) in January of 2012 Released full guidelines in June of 2012 www.sde. ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/.../adopted_peac_ guidelines.pdf

15. The SDE/PEAC Guidelines 45/40/15 45 % is based on multiple student learning measures 22.5% state test (CMT/CAPT), if applicable - ? If not – Student Learning Goal 22.5% other student learning measures (district/school administrators and teacher collaboratively decide) Standardized test Portfolio SLO 40 % is based on observation of teacher performance and practice 10 % is based on peer or parent feedback surveys 5 % is based on whole-school student learning indicators or student feedback

16. The SDE/PEAC Guidelines Outcomes RatingPractice Rating Language for state reporting of overall rating: Exemplary, Proficient, Developing, Below Standard

17. Student Learning Objectives The 45%

18. SDE/PEAC Guidelines for 45% 45 % is based on multiple student learning measures 22.5% Student Learning Objective (SLO) for state tests, if applicable; if not an alternate SLO/IAGD (Indicator of Academic Growth & Development) 22.5% other student learning measures (district/school; administrator and teacher collaboratively decide) SLO/IAGD

20. Sample SLO for Grade 8 Science My students will master concepts of science inquiry.

22. Sample IAGD for Grade 8 Science 78% of my students will attain at least a 4 on the state assessment section concerning science inquiry.

23. Observation of Practice The 40%

24. 40 % - Observation of Teacher Performance and Practice 40 % is based on observation of teacher performance and practice

25. How Many Observations? Years 1 & 2 Teachers 3 formal (minimum of 30 min) 1 announced with pre- conference 2 unannounced All 3 have post conferences & written feedback 1 informal (minimum of 10 min) unannounced Verbal and/or written feedback Years 3 & 4+ Teachers 1 formal (minimum of 30 min) announced Verbal & written feedback 2 unannounced informal (minimum of 10 min) Verbal and/or written feedback

26. What do we mean by “observation”? 40 % - Observation of Teacher Performance and Practice Classroom & Professional Practice Observations Informal Classroom Observation Formal Classroom Observation Observation of Professional Conversation (e.g., Collegial PLC or data team conversations, presentations, mentoring, Parent Conferences,) Self-Evaluations Portfolio/Document Review

27. Parent Feedback 10%

28. Student Feedback 5%

29. Stakeholder Feedback “… the use of client surveys as part of a comprehensive teacher evaluation system can provide administrators and teachers with better feedback and assessment information both for personal and professional improvement and for ensuring accountability in performance.” ~Stronge, 2006

30. Stakeholder Feedback Reliability of Students’ Ratings Peterson (2000), in a review of research studies, found that student ratings of teachers tend to be consistent among students and reliable from one year to the next.

32. Goal Setting for the 10% & 5% Leadership team and staff set school-wide goal(s) based on survey results Teacher articulates an action plan to support the school-wide goal Teacher gets measured on the extent to which the action plan was carried out

33. Example Area of Focus for School-wide Goal: Increasing communication with parents regarding student progress. Objectives: I will post grades to the online grade book weekly. I will personally contact parents of students with low grades two weeks before progress reports. My team will create a monthly newsletter highlighting student work as well as information regarding upcoming curriculum.

34. Role-Play Prep Assume your given role Parent Teacher Administrator Student BOE Members Brainstorm a list of pros & cons for the CT TEVAL model from your role’s perspective Decide who will plead your case to a Board of Education