September 2015

Exploring Student Academic Growth Measures

In accordance with Senate Bill 706, the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Commission shall recommend to the State Board of Education multiple reliable, research-based measures for providing a quantitative evaluation component for teachers in grades and subjects for which there is no state-mandated testing measure.  The State Board of Education shall approve and publish a list of approved measures by February 1, 2016.  A study focusing on the teacher evaluation system in over 30 states found the following six commonly-used quantitative measurements:

• Student-Learning Objectives
• Teacher Portfolios
• Utilization of Current Diagnostic Tools
• Benchmark Assessments
• Measures of Collective Performance
• Student Surveys

While none of the listed student growth measures have been approved by the TLE Commission, working groups have been formed to gain deeper insight on each measurement in determining the benefits and detriments of each measurement.  Partnerships with a variety of school districts to pilot these measures coupled with feedback from teachers and administrators will help create a well-rounded list that can be adapted to meet the academic goals of all school districts.

You can access a copy of SB 706 here.

Options Over Requirements for Districts

Prior to Senate Bill 706, quantitative measurements were assigned to tested- and non-tested teachers without input from individual districts.  Once the list of student academic growth measures are finalized, districts will have the option to choose the measurements they feel best meet the needs of their educators and students.  This increase in local control allows for greater alignment between evaluations and the goals of individual schools.  According to SB 706, the State Board of Education shall approve the measurement list by February 1, 2016.  While the quantitative portion of TLE will go into effect for the 2016-17 school year, it will not affect teacher employment decisions until the 2017-18 school year.

Listen, Stay Informed, Find Your Voice

Over the next several weeks, the TLE Commission will be holding working groups to discuss different student academic growth measures.  All the audio for each meeting can be found on the state TLE website or click here.  We encourage everyone to stay informed through these audio recordings and offer your feedback through the surveys linked to each session.  Your voice is valued and plays a role in the decision-making process for the TLE Commission.

We Want to Hear from You

The Office of Educator Effectiveness is actively soliciting feedback to improve our evaluation system.  The State Department of Education serves all educators and values ideas and suggestions geared toward improving learning and strengthening teachers.  If you have any questions/suggestions regarding teacher evaluation or would like to schedule a training, you can reach Dr. Perez at Jason.Perez@sde.ok.gov or Ginger DiFalco at Ginger.Difalco@sde.ok.gov