Resources and Updates for Appraisers: Teacher Appraisal and Development System

Resources and Updates for Appraisers: Teacher Appraisal and Development System

See below for news about the Student Performance Component, Progress Conferences, Students’ Progress Measure Close-out, Pre-Approved Assessments, Effective Practice Resources, and A&D Training Opportunities. Principals are asked to share these updates with appraisers.

New Items:

1.  Student Performance Component

·  Given the feedback around the consistency and standardization in the implementation of the Appraisal and Development process, HISD will continue to move forward with including student performance results in final appraisal ratings this year for teachers who have been assigned the following measures based on the courses they teach:

-  A combination of any number of Value-Added (EVAAS) and Comparative Growth measures;

-  At least two Comparative Growth measures;

-  A combination of any number of Value-Added (EVAAS) measures and Students’ Progress measures using a Pre-approved assessment ; or

-  A combination of any number of Value-Added (EVAAS) and Students’ Progress measures on district-wide assessments, such as Advanced Placement exams.

·  This teacher group covers approximately 40% of the district’s teaching population and includes 3rd through 8th grade core subject teachers, 2nd grade math, reading, language teachers, and AP teachers whose students take the STAAR EOC assessments. These measures, Value-Added and Comparative Growth, were selected as they are both based upon standardized tests and require objective, quantitative calculations.

2.  Progress Conferences

Appraisers can begin conducting Progress Conferences with teachers. Appraisers should conduct Progress Conferences for all teachers by January 25, 2013. Appraisers can use the online Feedback and Development Tool to record mid-year criterion scores and ratings and share them with the teacher, or if teachers and appraisers are still experiencing technical difficulties, they can use the Progress Conference Form PDF that is located on the Employee Appraisal Web site and submit it to the Online File Collection Tool (OFCT). Please see the attachment for the OFCT upload procedure.

3.  Progress Conference Protocol Guide

A guide for preparing for and conducting the Progress Conference has been posted on the Employee Appraisal Systems website. This guide provides suggested steps for preparation and talking points during the conference.

4.  Students’ Progress Measure Close-out Checklist for Fall/First-Semester (A) Courses:

·  Appraisers of teachers with Students’ Progress measures assigned to fall/first-semester (A) courses should refer to the checklist for guidance on the close-out procedure for fall/first-semester (A) courses.

-  The steps outlined in the checklist apply to Students’ Progress measures on Pre-Approved and Appraiser-Approved assessments only, not to District-wide assessments used as Students’ Progress measures.

·  Teachers and appraisers do not need to submit this checklist; it is intended to assist them in carrying out the steps in the Students’ Progress process for measures assigned to fall/first-semester (A) courses. Also note that timeframes in this checklist are guidelines and are not deadlines on the district appraisal calendar.

5.  Pre-approved Assessments for Seven First-Semester Secondary Courses

Pre-approved assessments for seven first-semester (A) secondary courses (Grade 8 Phys Ed, Individual Sports, Team Sports, Foundations of Personal Fitness, Health, Government, and Economics) are now posted on the Curriculum websiteCurriculum site (login required).

6.  Effective Practice Resources Now Available for the Planning Criteria

·  The Professional Support & Development department has developed seven additional effective practice resources that will support teachers in a deeper understanding of each of the planning criterion.

·  The seven effective practices include: Adjust Plan, Determine and Track Student Progress, Develop Annual Goals, Develop Annual Plan, Effective Lesson Plans, Effective Unit Plans and Invest Students. These resources are now available on the Professional Support and Development website.

7.  Teacher Appraisal and Development System Training Opportunities:

Below are lists of upcoming optional training sessions for appraisers and teachers. Registration is available on eTRAIN.

Sessions for Appraisers

·  High Quality PPAs

-  January 14, 2013 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. HMW 2C10 (eTRAIN DC3004)

-  January 22, 2013 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. HMW 2C12 (eTRAIN EA0026)

-  February 12, 2013 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. HMW 2C05 (eTRAIN EA0026)

-  March 19, 2013 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. HMW 3C10 (eTRAIN EA0026)

·  ePerformance Appraisal System

-  February 19, 2013 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. HMW 3C10 (eTRAIN EA0027)

-  February 21, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. HMW 3C12 (eTRAIN EA0027)

-  February 26, 2013 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. HMW 3C12 (eTRAIN EA0027)

-  February 28, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. HMW 3C12 (eTRAIN EA0027)

-  March 5, 2013 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. HMW 3C12 (eTRAIN EA0027)

-  March 7, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. HMW 3C12 (eTRAIN EA0027)

Sessions for Teachers

·  Using Comparative Growth Teacher Reports to Impact Student Outcomes (for 2nd-8th grade teachers with Comparative Growth)

-  Tuesday, January 22, 4-6 PM, Ryan Professional Development Center, 4001 Hardy Street, (eTRAIN TT2632)

·  Using EVAAS End-of-Course Teacher Reports to Impact Student Outcomes (for MS/HS teachers with EOC Exams)

-  Monday, January 14, 4-6 PM, Ryan Professional Development Center, 4001 Hardy Street, (eTRAIN DC3014)

·  Using EVAAS End of Grade Teacher Reports to Impact Student Outcomes (for ES/MS teachers)

-  Tuesday, January 15, 4-6 PM, Ryan Professional Development Center, 4001 Hardy Street, (eTRAIN DC3203)