Ida Public School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

3220 - PROFESSIONAL STAFF EVALUATION

The Board of Education, through the powers derived from the School Code and other relevant statutes, is responsible for the employment and discharge of all personnel. To carry out this responsibility, with involvement of professional staff, it delegates to the Superintendent the function of establishing and implementing a rigorous, transparent, and fair performance evaluation system that does all of the following:

 

A.

evaluates the employee's job performance at least annually in a year-end evaluation, while providing timely and constructive feedback

   
 

Teachers rated highly effective on three (3) consecutive year-end evaluations may be evaluated every other year, at the District's discretion.

   
 

B.

establishes clear approaches to measuring student growth and provides professional staff with relevant data on student growth

   
 

Commencing with the 2015-16 school year, the year end evaluation of student growth shall be based on the most recent three (3) consecutive school years of student growth data, or all available student growth data if less than three (3) years is available.

   
 

C.

evaluates an employee's job performance, using rating categories of highly effective, effective, minimally effective and ineffective, which take into account student growth and assessment data. For the 2015 - 2016, 2016 - 2017 and 2017 - 2018 school years twenty-five percent (25%) of the annual year-end evaluation shall be based on student growth and assessment data. Beginning with the 2018 - 2019 school year, forty percent (40%) of the annual year-end evaluation shall be based on student growth and assessment data.

   
 

For these purposes, student growth shall be measured by the following:

     
 

1.

Beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year, the portion of a teacher's annual year-end evaluation that is not based on student growth and assessment data shall be based primarily on a teacher's performance as measured by the District as described below.

     
 

2.

Beginning with the 2018 - 2019 school year, for core content areas in grades and subjects in which state assessments are administered, fifty percent (50%) of student growth must be measured using the state assessments, and the portion of student growth not measured using state assessments must be measured using multiple research-based growth measures or alternative assessments that are rigorous and comparable across schools within the District. Student growth also may be measured by student learning objectives or nationally normed or locally adopted assessments that are aligned to state standards, or based on achievement of individualized education program goals.

     
 

3.

The portion of a teacher’s evaluation that is not measured using student growth and assessment data or using the evaluation tool developed or adopted by the District shall incorporate criteria enumerated in section M.C.L. 380.1248(1)(b)(i) to (iii) that are not otherwise evaluated under the tool. (See Policy 3131.)

     
 

4.

If there are student growth and assessment data available for a teacher for at least three (3) school years, the annual year-end evaluation shall be based on the student growth and assessment data for the most recent three (3) consecutive-school-year period. If there are not student growth and assessment data available for a teacher for at least three (3) school years, the annual year-end evaluation shall be based on all student growth and assessment data that are available for the teacher.

   
 

D.

uses the evaluations, at a minimum, to inform decisions regarding all of the following:

   
 

1.

the effectiveness of employees, so that they are given ample opportunities for improvement

   
 

2.

promotion, retention, and development of employees, including providing relevant coaching, instruction support, or professional development

   
 

3.

whether to grant tenure or full certification, or both, to employees, using rigorous standards and streamlined, transparent, and fair procedures

   
 

4.

removing ineffective tenured and untenured employees after they have had ample opportunities to improve, and providing that these decisions are made using rigorous standards and streamlined, transparent, and fair procedures

     
 

E.

provides a mid-year progress report for every teacher who is in the first year of probation or has received a rating of minimally effective or ineffective on the most recent annual year-end evaluation

   
 

This mid-year report shall not replace the annual year-end evaluation. The mid-year report shall:

   
 

1.

be based, at least in part, on student achievement;

   
 

2.

be aligned with the teacher's individualized development plan;

   
 

3.

include specific performance goals and any recommended training for the remainder of the school year, as well as written improvement plan developed in consultation with the teacher that incorporates the goals and training.

   
 

F.

includes classroom observations in accordance with the following:

   
 

1.

must include review of the lesson plan, State curriculum standards being taught and student engagement in the lesson

   
 

2.

must include multiple observations unless the teacher has received an effective or higher rating on the last two (2) year-end evaluations

   
 

3.

observations need not be for an entire class period

   
 

4.

beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year, at least one (1) observation must be unscheduled;

     
 

5.

beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year, the school administrator responsible for the teacher’s performance evaluation shall conduct at least one (1) of the observations;

   
   

Other observations may be conducted by other observers who are trained in the use of the evaluation tool as described below. These other observers may be teacher leaders.

   
 

6.

beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year, the district shall ensure that, within thirty (30) days after each observation, the teacher is provided with feedback from the observation.

   
 

G.

For the purposes of conducting annual year-end evaluations under the performance evaluation system, by the beginning of 2016 - 2017 school year, the District will adopt and implement one (1) or more of the evaluation tools for teachers that are included on the list established and maintained by the Michigan Department of Education ("MDE").

     
   

The evaluation tool(s) shall be used consistently among the schools operated by the District so that all similarly situated teachers are evaluated using the same evaluation tool.

   
 

H.

Beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year, the District will post on its public website all of the following information about the measures it uses for its performance evaluation system for teachers:

   
 

1.

The research base for the evaluation framework, instrument, and process or, if the District adapts or modifies an evaluation tool from the MDE list, the research base for the listed evaluation tool and an assurance that the adaptations or modifications do not compromise the validity of that research base.

   
 

2.

The identity and qualifications of the author or authors or, if the District adapts or modifies an evaluation tool from the MDE list, the identity and qualifications of a person with expertise in teacher evaluations who has reviewed the adapted or modified evaluation tool.

   
 

3.

Either evidence of reliability, validity, and efficacy or a plan for developing that evidence or, if the District adapts or modifies an evaluation tool from the MDE list, an assurance that the adaptations or modifications do not compromise the reliability, validity, or efficacy of the evaluation tool or the evaluation process.

   
 

4.

The evaluation frameworks and rubrics with detailed descriptors for each performance level on key summative indicators.

   
 

5.

A description of the processes for conducting classroom observations, collecting evidence, conducting evaluation conferences, developing performance ratings, and developing performance improvement plans.

   
 

6.

A description of the plan for providing evaluators and observers with training.

     
 

I.

Beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year:

     
 

1.

The District will provide training to teachers on the evaluation tool(s) used by the District in its performance evaluation system and how each evaluation tool is used. This training may be provided by a district or by a consortium consisting of the District, the intermediate school district or a public school academy.

     
 

2.

The District will ensure that training is provided to all evaluators and observers. The training shall be provided by an individual who has expertise in the evaluation tool or tools used by the District, which may include either a consultant on that evaluation tool or framework or an individual who has been trained to train others in the use of the evaluation tool or tools. The District may provide the training in the use of the evaluation tool or tools if the trainer has expertise in the evaluation tool or tools.

The staff evaluation program shall aim at the early identification of specific areas in which the individual professional staff member needs help so that appropriate assistance may be provided or arranged for. A supervisor offering suggestions for improvement to a professional staff member shall not release that professional staff member from the responsibility to improve. If a professional staff member, after receiving a reasonable degree of assistance, fails to perform his/her assigned responsibilities in a satisfactory manner, dismissal, or non-renewal procedures may be invoked. A teacher rated as "ineffective" on three (3) consecutive year-end evaluations must be dismissed from employment as a teacher with the District. In such an instance, all relevant evaluation documents may be used in the proceedings.

If a non-probationary teacher is rated as ineffective on an annual year-end evaluation, the teacher may request a review of the evaluation and the rating by the Superintendent. The request for a review must be submitted in writing within twenty (20) days after the teacher is informed of the rating. Upon receipt of the request, the Superintendent shall review the evaluation and rating and may make any modifications as appropriate based on his/her review. However, the performance evaluation system shall not allow for a review as described in this subdivision more than twice in a three (3) school-year period.

Beginning with the 2018 - 2019 school year, the District shall not assign a student to be taught in the same subject area for two (2) consecutive years by a teacher who has been rated as ineffective on his/her two (2) most recent annual year-end evaluations. If the District is unable to comply with this and plans to assign a student to be taught in the same subject area for two (2) consecutive years by a teacher who has been rated as ineffective on his/her two (2) most recent annual year-end evaluations, the Board will notify the student's parent or legal guardian in writing not later than July 15 immediately preceding the beginning of the school year for which the student is assigned to the teacher, that the District is unable to comply and that the student has been assigned to be taught in the same subject area for a second consecutive year by a teacher who has been rated as ineffective on his/her two (2) most recent annual year-end evaluations. The notification shall include an explanation of why the Board is unable to comply.

Evaluations shall be conducted of each professional staff member as stipulated in the Teacher Tenure Act, the revised School Code, a negotiated agreement or contract, the Superintendent's administrative guidelines and as directed by the Michigan Department of Education. A professional staff member shall be given a copy of any documents relating to his/her performance which are to be placed in the personnel file.

This policy shall not deprive a professional staff member of any rights provided by State law or contractual rights consistent with State law.

M.C.L. 380.1249 (as amended)

Revised 12/8/14
Revised 6/8/15
Revised 8/8/16

© Neola 2016