Thursday, January 21, 2016

NYSUT INTERPRETATION OF NEW STATE TEACHER EVALUATION REGULATIONS


NYSUT has an updated fact sheet on Annual Professional Performance Review (teacher evaluation). The information on the fact sheet comes right from the State Education Department and it shows how student performance on tests is alive and well as a way to rate teachers and principals for the next four years. There is only a moratorium on using Common Core grade 3-8 tests and Regents exam scores based on a state growth model. While many of us will be exempt from having student test scores used in our evaluations for this year only, student performance will be a part of our ratings under the new system that will have to be in place for 2016-17.
From NYSUT's fact sheet:
THE NEW APPR SYSTEM
The new system replaces the three subcomponent system (20% state growth or Student Learning Objectives (SLO); 20% student achievement or growth on locally selected measures; and 60% evidence of teaching practice) with a two category matrix system that includes student performance and teacher observation. 
The observation from someone from outside the school is also part of the new system.
The Matrix below also comes from the NYSUT fact sheet via SED.
The final rating will be determined using the following matrix. The teacher’s rating for each category is applied to the rubric to determine the overall rating.
Matrix
Teacher Observation
Student Performance

Highly Effective (H)
Effective (E)
Developing (D)
Ineffective (I)
Highly Effective (H)
H
H
E
D
Effective (E)
H
E
E
D
Developing (D)
E
E
D
I
Ineffective (I)
D*
D*
I
I
*If a teacher is rated ineffective on the Student Performance category, and a local selected state-designed supplemental assessment was included as an optional subcomponent of the Student Performance category, the teacher must be rated Ineffective overall.
As for the very objectionable aspect of the new law that says teachers are guilty until proven innocent, that remain in effect.
From the fact sheet:
  • If a teacher receives two consecutive ineffective ratings, the district may bring a 3020-a proceeding and the burden of proof shifts to the teacher with the hearing completed within 90 days.
  • If a teacher receives three consecutive ineffective ratings, the district must bring a 3020-a and the only defense a teacher can use is fraud or mistaken identity with the hearing completed within 30 days.
Please read the NYSUT fact sheet and State Ed Department documents for yourself as many of you have much more expertise than me on what I think is a crazy evaluation system.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tests are still in there. It does not say this on the UFT commercial.

Anonymous said...

What is the breakdown of the number of observations? (Is there only two required observations? One from principal and one from the outside observer?) As a teacher in a non-tested subject, this is the most crucial information that I and thousands of other teachers need to know. Any info is MUCH appreciated!

James Eterno said...

It is minimum 2 as I read it. One from school administrator and one from outside school. More can be negotiated locally.

Anonymous said...

I pray to God the UFT will fight for just the bare minimum of two observations. I am sick of the gotcha mentality of these drive by observations. If Mulgrew does not fight for the bare minimum of two observations then he deserves to get voted out of office. Every teacher I know misses the good old days where tenured teachers were only observed twice a year. I am yearning for a return to just two observations per year. (Maybe the UFT could negotiate 3 or 4 observations for probationary teachers) Thoughts???

Anonymous said...

The UFT knows these drive-by observations are hurting teachers. 2, 4, or 10 what's the difference.

Unannounced observations are a tool to harass and provide a means to fire teachers.

The fact that Mulgrew didn't fight this shows you which side of the debate he's on.

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew's gotta go no matter what.

Anonymous said...

To Anno 3:27. All the drive by observations do make a difference. I would much rather sweat out 2 drive by observations that 3 or 4. The daily stress of worrying if today is "the day" of a drive by observation is overwhelming for me and thousands of other teachers. Two drive by observations are better than the 4+ that we have now.

Anonymous said...

Anon: 6:39

Those two drive-by observations will carry more weight. What's the difference how many? It is an unfair system.

I don't see drive-by observations done on principals by superintendents. PPOs, Quality Reviews etc. are all announced. Why is THAT?

Anonymous said...

I don't care if they carry more weight. I have my sh*t together. I am just stressed at the thought of somebody coming in 4+ times a year meddling around my room. I would much rather have two observations than four or more. Secondly, I am guessing that if there are two minimum observations that will mean that one of them will be a formal observation which will mean that it will be announced and I will know in advance of when it is happening. I am making a broad guess that the unannounced observation will be an informal observation done by the outside evaluator and the announced observation will be a formal done by the principal. I think that the few school districts in NYS who came up with a new evaluation plan that was approved by the NYSED do it that way and I am hoping for the same here in NYC. Fingers crossed.

James Eterno said...

Those numbers are minimums. Administration can come into your classroom whenever they like.

Anonymous said...

Yes, admin can come into your room at any time. However, for evaluation purposes, there are a set amount that must be documented according to the BS Danielson rubric. (In my case, 3 informals and one formal) My principal is decent and only comes in to do 3 informals and one formal. Even though there are many vindictive principals, there are still a few that are ok. The point it that many principals do not want to write up all of these observations according to the Danielson rubric as it takes time. What I am hoping for is that if two observations are the minimum, then that will be it and I will only have to worry about my principal coming in once and the outside evaluator coming in once.

Anonymous said...

Really, teachers... prepared or not are always stressed and waiting for administrators to pop in. If you have good administrators who are fair and in touch with what really goes on in a classroom, it doesn't matter. Some however are so far removed from what goes on in a classroom and believe that danielson is a fair evaluation tool. Stressed teachers do nothing but stress out children. What other profession is micromanaged and harassed this way? Why on earth would we allow strangers to come into our schools to observe us. Really there is no union protecting us.

Anonymous said...

God, I miss the good old days of the "S" and "U" ratings and just two obsos per year for tenured teachers. I do not know a single veteran teacher who is down with this new crazy system.

James Eterno said...

I agree 100%.