Arkansas – Educator Effectiveness
This profile summarizes the efforts made by states and districts to implement evaluation and feedback systems, including the SREB Elements of Evaluation—basic information about the state evaluation framework. The sections below correspond to the three sections of the State Actions to Advance Teacher Evaluation report released in February 2016.
SREB Elements of Evaluation
|
System Name |
Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS) |
|
System Type |
State framework with some district-determined components |
|
Framework for Effective Teaching |
Danielson’s Framework |
|
Key Elements of Professional Practice |
Artifact collection, student surveys (optional) |
|
Measures of Student Growth |
To Be Determined – State Board to develop a new set of measures |
|
Weight of Component Measures |
N/A – TESS does not use weights to finalize the summative rating |
|
Number of Required Observations During Summative Evaluation |
Two |
|
Performance Levels |
Unsatisfactory, Basic, Proficient, Distinguished |
Design of State Evaluation Models
During an annual summative evaluation year, evaluators conduct two observations and provide feedback during the required post-observation conference. The state framework emphasizes the use of classroom artifacts to inform the evaluator’s rubric ratings.
The state department will not require the use of student growth measures as a component of district evaluation systems until the State Board of Education adopts new statewide measures and rules for their use.
Teachers develop professional growth plans in consultation with their evaluator. Teachers identify a targeted area of growth and use available student learning data to create a professional growth goal.
Implementation of District Evaluation Systems
The state education agency uses Bloomboard, an online, video-based system to train, assess and certify evaluators. Administrators must complete training and pass the state certification test to become evaluators.
Through the BloomBoard platform, teachers can view rubric modules and videos of well-executed post-observation conferences.
In fall 2015, the Arkansas Department of Education offered BloomBoard University training—an opportunity for leadership teams to build their data-driven strategies. Teams learned about the process of analyzing data, creating action plans, aligning resources and monitoring progress.
Transformation of Professional Learning
The state department does not report summative evaluation ratings.
The BloomBoard online platform allows individuals to examine their performance data. School and district administrators can view summary data for their teachers.
The state department will use teacher and principal evaluation results to analyze the distribution of effective teachers across the state.