Teacher Evaluations

Education news, analysis, and opinion about how teachers’ job performance is reviewed

Explainer

Teacher Evaluation: An Issue Overview
This overview covers teacher evaluation and includes information on evaluation models, controversies, research, and reform trends.
Teaching Profession Opinion How International Learning Has Transformed Denver Public Schools
How Denver Public Schools has made improvement to equity in education based on international best practice.
Tom Boasberg, December 18, 2017
5 min read
Education What's the Future of Teacher Evaluation in the ESSA Era?
So far, six states have ditched teacher evaluations that rely on student test scores. But even more may decide to change their performance reviews after the 2018 election.
Alyson Klein, November 28, 2017
2 min read
Personalized Learning Opinion How Do You Weigh a Teacher?
Authors Art Costa and Bena Kallick tell us, "When considering teacher quality, we are concerned about whether the teacher has the more enduring habits that will serve them well as they continue to learn, grow and respond positively to change."
Jill Berkowicz & Ann Myers, November 16, 2017
3 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act What's Next for This State's Tough Teacher Evaluation System?
A higher percentage of teachers come up short in New Mexico than in many other states—but that could change.
Alyson Klein, November 14, 2017
9 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Are States Changing Course on Teacher Evaluation?
Current trends indicate states are backing away from using student-growth measures—and standardized-test scores, in particular—to gauge teacher quality.
Liana Loewus, November 14, 2017
8 min read
Teaching Profession Teachers Get an Invite to Policy Table in N.M.
After some contentious debates over its tough teacher-evaluation system, New Mexico is reaching out with new initiatives aimed at incorporating teachers’ input on education decisions made at the state level.
Alyson Klein, November 14, 2017
5 min read
School Climate & Safety Opinion When Evaluation Teaches, Learners Reap the Benefits
Whether evaluating teachers or students, making what matters clear is essential. Even when a rubric or checklist attempts to make things well defined, communication and understanding can be elusive.
Jill Berkowicz & Ann Myers, November 9, 2017
4 min read
School & District Management Using Test Scores Tends to Lower Teacher-Evaluation Ratings, Study Shows
Decisions about what elements to include in a teacher evaluation system, such as value-added measures, and how much weight to give them can have significant impacts on who is deemed proficient, according to a new study.
Liana Loewus, November 1, 2017
3 min read
Teaching Profession Houston District Settles Lawsuit With Teachers' Union Over Value-Added Scores
The Houston school district has settled a federal lawsuit brought by the teacher's union over the school system's controversial teacher evaluation system, which involved a secret algorithm.
Liana Loewus, October 26, 2017
2 min read
Standards & Accountability Opinion In Defense of (Some) Standards
The funny thing is this: while Reformsters and policy-makers and researchers write and rewrite standards, benchmarks and assessments (or change the names of state standards to avoid the taint of "Common Core"), teachers go on teaching, standards or no standards.
Nancy Flanagan, October 24, 2017
4 min read
Teaching Profession Gates Ends Investment in Teacher Evaluation: What That Means for the Field
Some states are already backing off of linking student test scores to teacher evaluations--but it's not because the Gates funding stream is ending.
Liana Loewus, October 23, 2017
3 min read
Teaching Profession Which States Are Friendliest to Teachers?
A new report draws on 21 key indicators to rank all 50 states and the District of Columbia from the best to the worst places for teachers to work. See how your state ranks.
Alix Mammina, September 27, 2017
2 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Teacher Evaluation: Why Multiple Measures Matter
In an industry as large as public education and where learning is our business, one might think we'd lead the way in measures of accountability. But we are not.
Jill Berkowicz & Ann Myers, September 21, 2017
4 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion It's Time for Teacher Evaluation and It's Only September!
How many can say that through the observation and evaluation process teaching and learning has improved and students were the beneficiaries?
Jill Berkowicz & Ann Myers, September 12, 2017
2 min read