GCOEVALUATION OF PROFESSIONAL
STAFF MEMBERS
GCOThe process and purpose of evaluation for certificated professional staff members is to result in an improvement of the quality of instruction and the strengthening of the abilities of the professional staff.
Definition of Terms
In this policy:
A. Certificated teacher means a person who holds a certificate from the State Board of Education to work in the schools of this state and who is employed under contract in a position that requires certification, except a psychologist or an administrator devoting at least fifty percent (50%) of the person’s time to classroom teaching.
B. Inadequacy of classroom performance means the definition of inadequacy of classroom performance adopted by the Governing Board.
C. Performance classifications means the four (4) performance classifications for teachers and principals adopted by the Governing Board.
D. Qualified evaluator means a school principal or other person who is trained to evaluate teachers and who is designated by the Governing Board to evaluate certificated teachers.
Evaluation of Classroom Teachers
and Other Certificated Non-
administrative Staff Members
The District teacher performance evaluation system shall do the following:
A. Be designed to improve teacher performance and improve student achievement;
B. Include quantitative data on the academic progress for all students, which shall account for between twenty percent (20%) and thirty-three percent (33%) of the evaluation outcomes;
C. Include four (4) performance classifications, designated as highly effective, effective, developing, and ineffective.
Performance classifications for teachers shall be the same four (4) performance classifications adopted by the State Board of Education. The performance classifications are to be applied to the evaluation instruments in a manner designed to improve principal and teacher performance. At least annually, the Governing Board will discuss at a public meeting its aggregate performance classifications of principals and teachers.
The District will involve its certificated teachers in the development and periodic evaluation of the teacher performance evaluation system. The following elements will be a part of the evaluation system:
A. It will meet the requirements prescribed in statute and provide at least one (1) evaluation of each certificated teacher by a qualified evaluator each school year or as provided in Section I.
B. A copy of the evaluation system shall be given to each teacher in the District.
C. Specific training requirements for qualified evaluators, approved by the Board, will be included which may involve local or national educator training resources recommended by the Superintendent.
D. The Superintendent will recommend qualified evaluators to the Board prior to naming evaluators.
E. The Board will designate qualified evaluators.
F. Best practices for professional development and evaluator training adopted by the State Board of Education will be considered.
G. The system will include incentives for teachers in the highest performance classification.
H. The system will include a plan for the appropriate use of quantitative data of student academic progress in evaluations of all certificated teachers. The plan may make distinctions between certificated teachers who provide direct instruction to students and certificated teachers who do not provide direct instruction to students. The plan may include data for multiple school years and may limit the use of data for certificated teachers who have taught for less than two (2) complete school years.
I. The District may use an alternative performance evaluation cycle subject to the following:
1. The Governing Board shall adopt policies for an expedited performance review during the years in which a teacher is not undergoing a formal performance evaluation. The expedited performance review policies may classify teacher performance in categories that include teamwork and support for lower-performing teachers.
2. The Governing Board shall allow only teachers who have been evaluated and designated in the highest performance classification for at least three (3) consecutive years by the same school to participate in the alternative performance evaluation cycle.
3. If an expedited performance review under this subsection determines that the teacher is not in the highest performance classification, the teacher shall be removed from the alternative performance evaluation cycle and be reviewed on the established evaluation system.
The Governing Board may waive the requirement of a second classroom observation for a continuing teacher whose teaching performance based on the first classroom observation places the teacher in one (1) of the two (2) highest performance classifications for the current school year, unless the teacher requests a second observation.
Continuing Teacher Reverting to Probationary Status
Following Ineffective Final Evaluation Rating
A certificated teacher who is currently a continuing teacher but who receives a Final Evaluation rating (based on both observations of classroom performance and quantitative data) of ineffective for the current school year shall become a probationary teacher for the subsequent school year and shall remain a probationary teacher unless and until that teacher's Final Evaluation rating (based on both observations of classroom performance and quantitative data) improves such that it is either effective or highly effective. This paragraph does not limit or restrict the District's option to issue such teacher a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance and, if sufficient improvement in performance does not occur, pursue nonrenewal or dismissal of that teacher, as applicable.
Either the qualified evaluator or another Board designee shall confer with the teacher to make specific recommendations as to the areas of improvement in the teacher's performance and to provide professional development opportunities for the certificated teacher to improve performance and follow up with the teacher after a reasonable period of time for the purpose of ascertaining that the teacher is demonstrating adequate performance.
Inadequacy of Classroom Performance
A teacher's classroom performance is inadequate if the teacher receives a rating of ineffective in one (1) or more of the Teaching Standards as specific in the teacher performance evaluation system.
A teacher's classroom performance is also inadequate if the teacher receives a rating of developing in two (2) or more of the Teaching standards as specified in the teacher performance evaluation system.
The Superintendent is authorized to issue preliminary notices of inadequacy of classroom performance prior to Governing Board approval. The Superintendent, in consultation with the principal or supervisor of the classroom teacher, will consider any mitigating circumstances before issuing such notices to a classroom teacher who is new to the profession or who was recently reassigned to a new grade level or content area. The Board will be notified within ten (10) school days of such issuance.
Definition of Inadequate Classroom Performance
A teacher's classroom performance is inadequate if any of the following four (4) conditions exist:
A. During any school year, the teacher receives a rating of ineffective in any one (1) or more of the eight (8) Teaching Standards set forth on the Classroom Observation Form following a formal observation of the teacher's classroom performance.
B. During any school year, the teacher receives a rating of developing in any two (2) or more of the eight (8) Teaching Standards set forth on the Classroom Observation Form following a formal observation of the teacher's classroom performance, unless the teacher a) is a first or second year teacher in the District or b) has been assigned reassigned to teach a new subject or grade level in the preceding or current school year.
C. During any school year, the teacher receives a Final Evaluation rating (based on both observations of classroom performance and quantitative data) of ineffective.
D. During any two (2) consecutive school years, the teacher receives consecutive Final Evaluation ratings (based on both observations of classroom performance and quantitative data) of ineffective and/or developing, unless the teacher a) is a first or second year teacher in the District; or b) has been reassigned to teach a new subject or grade level in the preceding or current school year.
Preparation of Performance Improvement
Plans Inadequately Performing Teachers
A written Performance Improvement Plan shall be prepared for each teacher whose classroom performance is inadequate, regardless of whether a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance is or is not issued to that teacher. A Performance Improvement Plan shall: address areas of concern; make recommendations for specific professional development; identify the types of data (evidence) that will be collected to determine improvement; provide an observation and support schedule; and, explain the assistance and supervision that will be provided to the teacher. The teacher's evaluation shall meet with the teacher and review the Performance Improvement Plan.
Issuance of Preliminary Notice of Inadequate
Classroom Performance
Authorization for Superintendent to Issue Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance
The Superintendent is authorized to issue Preliminary Notices of Inadequate Classroom Performance to teachers whose classroom performance is inadequate without first seeking Governing Board approval. The Governing Board will be notified within ten (10) school days of the issuance of any Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance.
Situations When Issuance of Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance is Mandated
The Superintendent shall issue a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance to a teacher no later than the second consecutive year that the teacher's classroom performance is inadequate.
Situations When Issuance of Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance is Discretionary
In situations other that those set out in the preceding paragraph, the Superintendent may issue a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance to a teacher whose classroom performance is inadequate. In determining whether to issue a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance, the Superintendent shall, in consultation with the principal or supervisor of the teacher, consider any mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, that a teacher is new to the profession or has recently been reassigned to a new grade level or content area.
Procedures Following Issuance of a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance
Either prior to or soon after a teacher receives a Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance, the teacher's evaluator shall prepare and provide to the teacher a written Performance Improvement Plan. The Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance, combined with the Performance Improvement Plan, shall specify the nature of the inadequacy with such particularity as to furnish the teacher an opportunity to correct the inadequacies and maintain adequate classroom performance. The evaluator shall meet with the teacher and review the Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance and the resulting Performance Improvement Plan.
The teacher shall be given an improvement period (the "Improvement Period") that encompasses sixty (60) calendar days and forty-five (45) instructional days, whichever is longer, after receiving the Preliminary Notice of Inadequate Classroom Performance and resulting Performance Improvement Plan. Assistance and supervision shall be provided to the teacher during the Improvement Period. At the conclusion of the Improvement Period, another formal classroom observation shall occur in order to determine whether the teacher has overcome the specified classroom performance deficiencies and is otherwise able to demonstrate adequate classroom performance. If by the end of the Improvement Period the teacher has not overcome the specified classroom performance deficiencies and/or is not able to demonstrate adequate classroom performance, the District may initiate nonrenewal procedures pursuant to A.R.S. 15-536 for a probationary teacher or dismissal procedures pursuant to A.R.S. 15-539 for a continuing teacher.
Appeal of Evaluation
A teacher whose evaluation is used as a criterion for establishing compensation and who disagrees with the evaluation may make a written appeal. The teacher shall have the burden of proof in the appeal. The appeal shall be heard by the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee.
Evaluation of Principals,
other Administrators
and Psychologists
The Board authorizes the Superintendent to establish a system for the evaluation of principals, other administrators, and certificated school psychologists. Advice will be sought from those to be evaluated in the development of the performance evaluation system for each of these employee classifications.
Evaluation of Principals
The Governing Board shall adopt policies that:
A. are designed to improve principal performance and improve student achievement.
B. include the use of quantitative data on the academic progress for all students, which shall account for between twenty percent (20%) and thirty-three percent (33%) of the evaluation outcomes.
C. include four (4) performance classifications, designated as highly effective, effective, developing and ineffective.
D. describe both of the following:
1. the methods used to evaluate the performance of principals, including the data used to measure student performance and job effectiveness.
2. the formula used to determine evaluation outcomes.
The evaluation system for the evaluation of the performance of principals may include the over-all instructional program, student progress, personnel, curriculum, and facilities. Principals will be given a review of evaluation procedures prior to beginning the process.
Subject to statutory limitations, the Board shall make available the evaluation and performance classification pursuant to A.R.S. 15-203 of each principal in the District to school districts and charter schools that are inquiring about the performance of the principal for hiring purposes.
Evaluation of Other Administrators
The format for the evaluation system for other administrators (other than the Superintendent) will be developed under the leadership of the Superintendent, focusing on the responsibilities and outcomes which support the over-all instructional program and needs of the District. Evaluation procedures, timelines, and methods to be used for the communication of evaluation results will be reviewed with each employee prior to beginning the process.
Evaluation of Certificated
School Psychologists
The evaluation system for certificated school psychologists shall include the following:
A. Recommendations as to areas of improvement in the performance of the certificated school psychologist if the performance warrants improvement.
B. After transmittal of an assessment, a Board designee shall confer with the certificated school psychologist to make specific recommendations as to areas of improvement in performance.
C. The Board designee shall provide assistance and opportunities for the certificated school psychologist to improve his performance and shall follow up after a reasonable period of time for the purpose of ascertaining that adequate performance is being demonstrated.
D. Appeal procedures for certificated school psychologists who disagree with the evaluation of their performance, if the evaluation is for use as criteria for establishing compensation or dismissal.
Contracts of Certificated Employees
The Governing Board may transmit and receive contracts of certificated employees in an electronic format and may accept electronic signatures on those contracts. The Superintendent will develop procedures for the implementation of this discretionary process.
The Governing Board may adopt requirements that require electronic signatures to be followed by original signatures within a specified time period.
Adopted: July 11, 2023
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-153
15-203
15-502
15-503
15-512
15-536
15-537
15-537.01
15-538
15-538.01
15-539 et seq.
15-544
15-549
15-918.02
15-977
A.A.C.
R7-2-605
CROSS REF.:
GBEB - Staff Conduct
GCB - Professional Staff Contracts and Compensation
GCF - Professional Staff Hiring
GCJ - Professional Staff Noncontinuing and Continuing Status
GCK - Professional Staff Assignments and Transfers
GCMF - Professional Staff Duties and Responsibilities
GCQF - Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of Professional Staff Members
GDO - Evaluation of Support Staff Members