ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SB 1255: teachers; alternative performance evaluations

PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Allen S, LD 6

BILL STATUS: Education

Abstract

Relating to an alternative performance evaluation cycle.

Provisions

1. Permits school districts to use an alternative performance evaluation cycle for teachers who have been designated in the highest performance classification for at least three consecutive years by the same district. (Sec. 1)

2. Instructs school district governing boards to adopt policies for an expedited performance review during years in which a teacher is not undergoing a formal performance evaluation. (Sec. 1)

3. Allows an expedited performance review to classify teacher performance in categories that include teamwork and support for lower-performing teachers. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires a teacher to be removed from the alternative performance evaluation cycle if an expedited performance review determines the teacher is not in the highest performance classification. (Sec. 1)

5. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

Current Law

SBE maintains a model framework for a teacher and principal evaluation instrument and guidelines for LEAs to use in their evaluation instruments. The framework includes four performance classifications – highly effective, effective, developing and ineffective – which are defined by the governing boards of LEAs. The instruments LEAs use to annually evaluate teachers and principals are required to meet the data requirements established by SBE and apply to the four performance classifications in a manner designed to improve performance (A.R.S. § 15-203).

School district governing boards prescribe procedures for teacher performance evaluations that include at least two classroom observations, plans for improvement of teacher performance, appeal procedures if the evaluations are used to establish compensation and a plan for using quantitative data of student academic progress (A.R.S. § 15-537).

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Fifty-third Legislature                  SB 1255

Second Regular Session                               Version 1: Education

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