Districts Studying New Teacher Evaluation Systems

Both and school districts are preparing to adopt new teacher evaluation systems, part of an effort by the state to make the evaluation process includes student improvement.

According to Warren Township Superintendent of Schools Tami Crader, the state has approved four models for teacher evaluations that all include a four-point evaluation scale. Districts will be required to have a system in place by 2014 that provides a number scale rating, or adopt one of the already-approved models.

Once in place, the evaluation system will used in conjunction with the district's current system to evaluate teachers.

"The system will be used as 50 percent of the teacher's evaluation, with the other 50 percent linked to student achievement, as well as internal methods," Dr. Crader said.

Dr. Crader said the district expects to have the system implemented next year, and will create an advisory board November 2012 to determine which model will be used.

The district is budgeting some of the additional state aid received this year to pay for establishing the new evaluation system.

The Department of Education is currently testing the models—known as the Stronge Teacher Evaluation System, the Marzano Causal Teacher Evaluation Model, the McREL Teacher Evaluation System, and the Danielson Framework—in 10 districts around the state in a pilot program called "Excellent Educators for New Jersey," or EE4NJ.

“On the whole, current teacher evaluation systems across the state are not as meaningful as they should be," Acting Commissioner Christopher D. Cerf said in announcing the pilot program testing the models. "Many teachers do not receive yearly evaluations, and most systems fail to measure the most important outcome of teacher practice—student performance. We believe this new framework addresses those issues, while still giving districts flexibility to develop evaluation systems that will best meet the needs of their teachers.”