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To: Oregon Superintendents
From: Colt Gill, Oregon Department of Education Director
Date: October 1, 2021
RE: Essential Information on Educator Evaluations for 2021-22
A Strong Educator Evaluation and Support System is Important
This communication outlines requirements for educator evaluations as well as options for districts who may opt for additional flexibility in conducting summative evaluations for contract teachers and administrators for the 2021-22 school year.
A strong educator evaluation and support system is an essential component to ensure students have access to and benefit from excellent educators. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges, requiring both innovation and flexibility in all aspects of the education system. Over the past two school years, the requirements for educator evaluations have remained in place, with flexibility given as it pertains to developing Student Learning and Growth goals (SLGs) and optional submission of summative evaluation data to ODE.
Summary of 2021-22 Educator Evaluation Requirements
Supporting the development of excellent educators is paramount to student well-being and learning.
Teacher and Administrator Evaluation and Support (OAR 581-022-2410) requires school districts to establish local evaluation and support systems to evaluate teachers and administrators on a regular cycle. The Oregon Framework for Teacher and Administrator Evaluation and Support Systems (the Evaluation Framework) provides expanded descriptions of these requirements and their cycle of completion, summarized below:
- Annual summative evaluations for probationary educators
- Summative evaluations for continuing educators at least once every two years
- The development of Student Learning and Growth (SLG) goals, including at least one goal based on relevant instructional or content area standards*
- The submission of educator evaluation data to ODE
*ODE encourages school leaders to use formative and classroom-based assessments rather than linking Student Learning and Growth goals to Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) data - which is also not available in the 2021-22 school year.
These requirements remain in effect for the 2021-22 school year. Additional guidance for educator evaluations and additional information pertaining to the development of SLG goals have been updated and posted to ODE’s webpage.
Flexibility Through an Option to Amend Local Evaluation Processes for 2021-22
As school districts resume in-person instruction during the global COVID-19 pandemic this school year, it is necessary to provide flexibility as educators navigate the implementation of many health and safety protocols, focus on student well-being and mental health, and ensure they are creating a welcoming and affirming learning environment for each and every student, all while attending to teaching and learning. It is also true that educators at all levels are assisting students, families and one another through frequent interruptions to learning to address COVID-19 close contacts, quarantines, and services for students inside and outside the classroom. Due to these additional challenges and the time all staff are spending to maintain school operations, school districts have requested the option to amend evaluation cycles for the 2021-22 school year.
In response, the Oregon Framework for Teacher and Administrator Evaluation and Support Systems has been amended for the 2021-22 school year only. School districts may follow a revised cycle for evaluations by completing these steps:
- Complete consultation with school board, educators, including the local bargaining association
- Complete and submit this notification and attestation form.
Oregon statute (ORS 342.850(2)(a)) requires the district school board to develop an evaluation process in consultation with school administrators and teachers. If teachers are represented, the board shall consult with teachers belonging to and appointed by the local bargaining organization.
For districts opting for local flexibility, the revised cycle for the 2021-22 school year would be:
- Evaluation of probationary teachers
- Evaluation of probationary administrators
Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, all districts should resume the standard evaluation cycle ensuring that all educators receive a summative evaluation by the end of the 2023-24 school year.
Maintaining Data Collection
For federal reporting purposes, districts are required to provide ODE with a summative rating for their teachers and principals through the Principal and Teacher Data Collection. The summative rating must reflect the educator’s performance relative to the standards for professional practice and responsibility described in the district’s four point evaluation rubric. Districts may include data collected as part of Student Learning and Growth goals in the summative rating, but it is not required. It is up to district discretion to determine how the data collected is used to inform the final rating.
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Submission of summative ratings within the Principal and Teacher Evaluation Data Collection for SY 2020-21 is not required. The data collection will open as scheduled in September 2021 for school districts that have summative evaluation data and wish to submit.
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Submission of summative ratings within the Principal and Teacher Evaluation Data Collection for SY 2021-22 will be required to meet federal data collection requirements, even if these data are incomplete given the flexibility some districts may employ. There will be no penalty for districts with incomplete data due to this flexibility, however the report must still be submitted. These data will be submitted in September 2022.
Questions?
Sarah Martin, Education Specialist – sarah.martin@state.or.us
Tim Boyd, Director of District and School Effectiveness - tim.boyd@state.or.us
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