Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/81698
DPASII-Revised Update Murphy tells DSEA: "We will improve DPASII communication and implementation" Creating a clear under- standing of the process remains a challenge after the DPASII informational ses- sions that were held in early August. Secretary Murphy, Christopher P Ruszkowski, chief officer of the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Unit, and Rebecca Taber, Gov. Markell's new education policy advisor, met with Jenner; Howard Weinberg, DSEA Exec. Director; Jeff Taschner, DSEA general coun- sel; and Debbie Stevens, DSEA director of instructional advocacy, on August 24. Jenner shared that after the August DPASII sessions, many members in attendance indi- cated that there was a great deal of confusion over the implementation of the new Component 5 process. "We were concerned that when assessing the process rollout against the Secretary's own laud- able standards– fairness, trans- parency, easy-to-understand, and being respectful of the profession– the communication and implemen- tation of the new evaluation system for this year, did not measure up." Murphy acknowledged that the department needs to do better, and also accepted some of DSEA's immediate suggestions for improv- ing communication and implemen- tation. Said Taber, "The department is on a long journey of continuous improvement." "We are planning frequent follow- up meetings as well," adds Jenner. "Overall, we were pleased. They heard us, were receptive to our rec- ommendations, and promised improvements." At the meeting, Jenner put forth these communication issues: • Some of the questions from infor- mational sessions were not answered or were not answered completely in the FAQ on the department web site. resident Frederika Jenner asked Sec. of Education Mark Murphy for a meeting the August information sessions. Secretary Murphy said that the stakeholders in this group will be convened in September. Mark Murphy, Delaware's Secretary of Education since May of this year, acknowledges that the Dept. needs to do better. • The changing message and changing answers to questions from one information session to the next were problematic. • There was lack of clarity around regulation 106A that requires that "alternative measures must be approved by the Department and developed in partnership with the local collective bargaining repre- sentatives." • The 'principal discretion' issue – goal setting, determining measures and targets – needs to be further discussed and clarified, with a more concrete process and guidance pro- vided. Secretary Murphy agreed to revisit that issue with DoE staff. The DSEA representatives on the Review Group will make sure it is discussed there, as well. • DoE needs to clearly explain the difference between the "teacher of record" definition which uses stu- dent enrollment and the state statute which defines excessive stu- dent absences from class (over 15% of class time missed) and mandates the exclusion of student test scores from students with excessive absences from educator evalua- tions. Currently, the DoE FAQ on their website uses the "teacher of record" definition so that all stu- dents, no matter their absences, are "Overall," says DSEA's President Jenner, "we were very pleased. He heard us, accepted what we said, and promised improvements." • There was no clear explanation of Title 14, Chapter 12, Section 1270(c)in the information sessions and in the FAQ that removes stu- dents who miss 15% or more atten- dance days from any Component 5 calculation. • The unexpected expectation that those who attended the information sessions would "train" their col- leagues who did not attend. Other significant concerns raised • The DPASII Review Group has not met since May 7 and, therefore, did not have a chance to weigh in on some of the issues coming out of 8 September 2012 DSEA ACTION! included in Component 5 student data. Murphy agreed to have cor- rected information as part of future sessions as well as in the FAQ post- ed at the Department web site. • Still unanswered is how Component 5 plays out in the off year for veteran staff who are on a two-year cycle. Murphy said he will revisit that issue with DoE staff, and DSEA representatives on the Review Group will also bring it up in order to fashion a process that is fair and clear. • Putting everything related to DPASII on the web is nice, but not sufficient. Principals, for example, www.dsea.org should have some kind of binder or folder with the information and documents they need. We all need guidelines, examples of good goal setting measures and targets, and models of an effective professional conversation. Murphy was recep- tive to these improvements. Local presidents will continue to be involved Jenner plans to bring the E.A. local presidents together in September for another DPASII dis- cussion, sharing and strategy ses- sion. She is also working on the idea of asking a group of teachers and spe- cialists to be part of a "Rapid Response Team," people whom she can contact when she needs their perspective on anything related to DPASII implementation this year. It would be great, she says, "…to have people on the ground, in addition to our presidents, that DSEA can con- sult with from time to time. It is important to have feedback from practitioners." Who is responsible for DPASII-Revised in the Department now? DPASII-Revised (Components 1-5) is now the responsibility of Christopher Ruszkowski. Diane Donohue will continue to work exclusively with Component 5. The revised Guides for Teachers and Specialists are expected to be on the Department DPASII web site by September at www.doe.k12.de. us/csa/dpasii/default.shtml. Whom do I contact at DSEA with questions or concerns about DPASII-Revised? Start with your local president and UniServ director. You may also contact Debbie Stevens, DSEA's director of instructional advocacy at Deborah.Stevens@dsea.org. Find your UniServ director at www.dsea.org/AboutDSEA/Whos Who.html.