Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/94843
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT New Teacher Evaluation Framework, cont. from page 17 Evaluation Policies by 2015-2016 must include: • Support and consequences for teachers designated in the lowest performance classification. • An intervention option for teachers in the lowest classification that includes an improve- ment plan. This option can only be used once. • Dismissal procedures with notice and hearing for teachers who continue to be in the lowest performance category after an improvement period. • Dismissal procedures for teachers in the lowest performance classification who are not offered an improvement option but are given a notice of inadequate performance. A preliminary notice must be given no later than the second consecutive year a teacher is in the lowest performance category. AEA believes the impact of this evaluation should be to raise principal and teacher per- formance, not rely solely on consequences, so we had language added to require that when school districts apply their performance clas- sification to their evaluation instrument it should be done in a manner designed to improve prin- cipal and teacher performance. In addition AEA also added language so that, after an evalua- tion, a teacher should be provided professional development opportunities in order to improve performance. Changes in Observation Requirements All district evaluation policies must include the following: • A minimum of 2 observations for every teacher • Each observation must include a full, uninter- rupted instructional lesson or class period • The first and last observation must be at least sixty days apart • The observer must provide written feedback within 10 days of the observation AEA felt it was important for there to be a least two observations of a teacher before an evaluation was written. AEA got language in the bill to ensure these observations are from a "complete and uninterrupted lesson" and also required at least 60 calendar days between the 24 Winter 2012/13 x AEA Advocate first and last observations so that a teacher has the appropriate time to improve. Additionally AEA had language included so that, within 10 business days after each obser- vation, the person observing the teacher must provide written feedback to the teacher. AEA added language to the bill to require school districts to ensure the person evaluating the teacher is trained and qualified. Changes in Transfer Policies Prohibits transferring a continuing teacher who is in one of the two lowest performance classifications for two consecutive years, unless: • Teacher has been issued a notice of inad- equate performance and has an improvement plan • Governing board decides it is best interest of students in the school A transfer in this category can only be used once. When transferring teachers between schools, a district must consider the distribution of teachers across all of the performance ratings categories. Changes in the Ability to Release Evaluations As a result by actions taken by AEA and the Arizona School Administrators, a teacher's evaluation report and performance classification are still not a public record, but the report can