Background Information
Over the past two years, the Illinois General Assembly has passed two reform acts that have a direct and significant impact on certified staff.
The two acts are:
PERA (Performance Evaluation Reform Act) – signed by the Governor in January 2010 SB7 (Education Reform Act) – signed by the Governor in June 2011
Items addressed by these acts, among other things, include:
Requirement that all teachers be evaluated using a four rating category system (Excellent, Proficient, Needs Improvement and Unsatisfactory) beginning in September 2012.
Requirements for filling of new and vacant positions.
Acquisition of tenure.
Reductions in Force/layoffs and recall rights.
System for the dismissal of tenured teachers.
Committee Work
The district’s TEC (Teacher Evaluation Committee) was established in September 2011 to address the need to adopt a research-based evaluation tool that would allow for evaluation of teachers using the required four-category system. The committee has spent hundreds of hours, collectively, on this process. The work of the committee has been maintained in a transparent manner through a public blog available on the district’s website under the Human Resources Department link.
The completed evaluation document will be available for you to review and download on May 14, 2012. A link to the documents will be emailed to all impacted staff on or before May 14.
Overview Meetings Announced
We will be providing three one-hour overview meetings for all interested certified staff. The committee encourages each certified staff member to consider attending one of these important meetings. The new evaluation instrument will be discussed at that time.
Here is the meeting schedule :
May 14
Session 1: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (CHS Auditorium)
Session 2: 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. (CHS Auditorium)
May 15
Session 3: 7:30 a.m. (Webster Auditorium)
Why did the committee change the evaluation tool and NOT JUST ADD the EXCELLENT RATING?
In answering this question, please reflect individually on the following: Based on the current narrative evaluation form in use by the district, if you received a proficient rating and another teacher received an excellent rating, how would you determine the difference? What evidence would insure that you and the other teacher were evaluated using the same criteria or with the same techniques? The answer to that question helps explain the importance of the adoption of a tool designed to improve inter-rater reliability and instructional expectations.
There are a number of reasons why changing our evaluation tool makes sense for this coming year. Here are a few:
The new tool provides a research-based rubric that will provide information to each educator to help them reach toward excellence. When we understand the expectations, we have a better chance of meeting them!
The new tool helps to provide better cross-rater reliability.
The state is requiring all evaluators to complete 30+ hours of training, which is based on the tool we have selected (Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching) and PASS rigorous online assessments (approximately 7-10 hours of assessment) before September 1, 2012.
The new tool encourages and facilitates teacher and evaluator conversations and emphasizes evidence-based outcomes
The new tool helps evaluators serve as coaches for improved instruction.
The new tool facilitates educator reflection on practice and improvement.
Is student growth a requirement of the new evaluation tool for the 2012-2013 school year?
Collinsville is not required to implement student growth as a component of teacher evaluation until the 2016-2017 school year. As a result, student growth is NOT part of the new evaluation tool. Student growth will be added into the evaluation process for the 2016-2017 school year.
I am nervous and worried and I have more questions!!!
Whether you are nervous, worried, confident or anywhere in between, please plan to attend one of the sessions on May 14 or 15 to help understand the new evaluation tool.
