Outcomes

Overview

When looking at teacher evaluation systems, it is critical to think about what is the desired outcome. If the goal is to ultimately increase student achievement, then teachers need feedback that will allow them to better influence student learning. Two primary arguments arise in this discussion – do evaluations appropriately affect reward systems and do they have any impact on resultant professional development?  Teachers need to learn from their successes and failures. Many people suggest tying evaluations to professional development and reward systems.

General Questions

1. Is the impact on reward system appropriate? Why or why not?

2. Do evaluations affect professional growth? Why or why not?

3. Do evaluations affect future performance? Why or why not?

4. Is the system fair? Why or why not? Does the system reward effective teachers, offer less effective teachers necessary help they need to succeed, and ensure that chronically ineffective teachers are phased out of the system? Why or why not?

5. Are there any innovative practices in this area?