Office of Educator Effectiveness
Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) System
Commonly Asked Questions
Student Growth and State Assessment
Q1. With passage of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are districts still required to include student growth measures in their PEPG system?
Yes, despite recent changes at the federal reporting level, Maine law still requires that student growth be an important factor in the summative evaluation of all teachers and principals. “Student learning and growth measures must be a significant factor in the determination of the summative effectiveness rating of an educator. To be considered “significant,” student learning and growth measures must have a discernible impact on an educator’s summative effectiveness rating. For more information on this, refer to Title 20-A MRSA Chapter 508.
Q2. The law says we are required to use state assessment data as a measure of student growth, however, we have not been receiving MEA results in time to use the data as a measure in the T-PEPG system. Can these teachers use an alternative assessment in place of the state assessment to measure student growth?
Yes, that has been the case in the past as the DOE has been transitioning over to the new MEAs. This past year, as the DOE has developed and refined the assessment system, there were delays in the availability of test results. This year, we anticipate distributing the test results to the districts in August for review and we will be releasing those results to the public by the end of September. This timeline should give the assessment information to everyone in time for the 2017-18 school year.
PEPG Timeline
Q3. Our PEPG timeline is out of sync with our deadlines for making employment decisions. Can we change our PEPG timeline?
Yes, some districts have adjusted their PEPG cycle from a school- year schedule to a March 1 to February 28 schedule. This change makes PEPG summary effectiveness results available in time to inform employment decisions that affect the subsequent school year.
PEPG Monitoring and Support
Q4. We have been told that Maine DOE will be collecting data related to the PEPG system. Is this true, and if so, what, when and for what purposes will you be collecting data?
Yes, by June 1, districts should expect to receive a brief, electronic survey designed to check-in on your PEPG system to understand what went well during this pilot year, what needs more work, and most importantly what we at the Maine DOE can do to support your success and that of your educators. Quantifiable data such as the number of educators involved in the pilot as well as aggregate summative effectiveness data, etc. will also be included in this survey. The deadline for completing the survey will be July 1.
Q5. Is there a way for us to see what other districts are using as their teacher and principal PEPG professional practice model, for purposes of collaborating around training and support?
Yes, Maine DOE just launched a story map of Maine, color-coded based on T-PEPG and P-PEPG professional practice models. You can access this map at: https://maine.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=3f9b9c1535704c558452165e08ad5cb9
This resource is a work-in-process, we welcome your feedback on ways it could be improved to better meet your needs.
Peggy Pisini
Maine Schools for Excellence Coordinator
Acting Educator Effectiveness Coordinator
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 650-5670
May 1, 2017