DSEA Action!

DPAS II - Revised Update Evaluation system changing for 2013-2014 On July 18, the State Board of Education approved changes to the teacher (106A)/specialist(107A) evaluation system, DPASII-Revised. ollowing are most of the changes to the evaluation system which will be implemented this school year, 2013-2014. To access both the Teacher and Specialist Guides, go to http:// www.doe.k12.de.us/csa/dpasii/ default.shtml. F "Credentialed Observer" –does not have to be your Evaluator A significant change this year in the teacher/specialist evaluation system is the creation of a "Credentialed Observer." This definition clarifies that a non-supervisory individual, such as a department chair, may conduct observations as part of the appraisal process as long as they have successfully completed the DOE DPAS II credentialing process required of observers and evaluators. Credentialed observers may conduct the required observations within the evaluation cycle. We believe that your supervisor/evaluator, however, is still responsible for your final Summative Evaluation. That is not completely clear in the new regulations so we are seeking clarification, as ACTION! was going to press. The Summative Evaluation may now include "additional Announced or Unannounced observation data beyond the required observation data provided by a Credentialed Observer." Number of Announced and Unannounced observations changing Highly Effective and Effective teachers and specialists shall receive at a minimum either an Announced or Unannounced observation each year. Previously, this observation had to be "Announced." The number of announced and unannounced observations for www.dsea.org Novice teachers has changed. They will now receive two Unannounced and One Announced instead of the reverse. Notice specialists will now receive one Unannounced and one Announced observation. Previously two Announced and one Unannounced observations were required. Districts may now waive one criterion from each of the first four Appraisal Components That's right. By August 31, districts must notify teachers whether they will waive one of the criteria in Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction and/or Professional Responsibilities. It is important to note that not all of the criteria are optional. For teachers, the optional criteria are: Planning and Preparation Selecting Instructional Goals, and Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy Classroom Environment Creating an Environment to Support Learning, and Organizing Physical Space Instruction - Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness, and Communicating Clearly and Accurately Professional Responsibilities Communicating with Families, and Growing and Developing Professionally For specialists, the Optional Criteria are: Planning and Preparation: Demonstrating Knowledge of Best Practice and Models of Delivery, and Demonstrating Knowledge of Students or Clients Professional Practice and Delivery of Services: Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness, and Communicating Clearly and Accurately Professional Collaboration and Consultation: Collaborating with Others, and Serving as a Consultant to the School Community Professional Responsibilities: Recording Student Data in a Record System, and Growing and Developing Professionally If your district has not notified teachers and specialists of a waiver of the optional criteria by the time you read this, then district evaluators must continue to evaluate you on all criteria. If they have chosen to waive some criteria, then those waivers apply to everyone and are in effect for the entire school year. All Appraisal Criteria observed shall be rated on each observation AND each shall also be assigned an overall rating in both a teacher's and specialist's Summative Rating Previously, the Summative Evaluation only indicated ratings for each of the five Appraisal Components. It did not include the ratings of each criterion within the Components. These new ratings must also be tied to the rubrics, based on evidence linked to the rubrics. An Improvement Plan MAY be developed if a teacher's or specialist's overall performance during an observed lesson is Unsatisfactory Previously, an Improvement Plan was mandatory following an Unsatisfactory Observation. This change provides administrators with some flexibility for rating observations, especially in situations where the observed lesson may not accurately reflect the teacher's/specialist's true capability In the end, districts must still . develop a plan and provide help when needed. Professional Development taken because of an Improvement Plan does not have to be federally or state funded or certified by the Dept. of Education. It does still, however, have to relate to your work responsibilities. According to DSEA's Debbie Stevens, dir. of instructional advocacy, "The Dept. has focused on things that take some of the pressure off the system. We urge everyone to still stay vigilant. The more you understand the process, the better prepared you are for it to go well." Looking ahead…. The state and districts will be moving "Common Core Standards" implementation out in districts in a big way this fall since it is due for full implementation in 2014-2015. The state will be offering some professional development, and the state's Common Core Implementation Group will continue to meet and make recommendations. As you probably know, the understanding and knowledge of Common Core varies greatly in Delaware. Check out the national data on page 6. DSEA is also offering Common Core workshops for members, by county, in both English Language Arts and Mathematics in October. See page 10. For more resources on Common Core, go to www.dsea. org and click on Common Core Standards - Resources under Quick Links. Can you still challenge an Unsatisfactory rating if there is no Improvement Plan? Yes. September 2013 DSEA ACTION! 5

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