Mississippi – 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 |
Mississippi Teacher Evaluation System |
|
System Type |
State framework with some district-determined components |
|
Framework for Effective Teaching |
Danielson’s Framework |
|
Key Elements of Professional Practice |
Artifacts, self-assessments |
|
Measures of Student Growth |
Student growth percentiles, student learning objectives (SLOs) |
|
Weight of Component Measures |
50% Professional practice / 50% Student growth |
|
Number of Required Observations During Summative Evaluation |
One |
|
Performance Levels |
Unsatisfactory, Emerging, Effective, Distinguished |
Design of State Evaluation Models
Evaluators measure effective teaching practice through the M-STAR observation rubric. Evaluators review artifacts and teacher self-assessments to inform the professional practice rating. Districts may use student surveys as an optional measure.
In 2015-16, all teachers received a school-wide growth score based on the state’s value-added model (VAM). Teachers of tested grades and subjects will receive individual VAM scores in the form of student growth percentiles.
Teachers of non-tested grades and subjects will develop SLOs.
Principals are the primary evaluators, but the state education agency (SEA) authorizes other personnel to evaluate teachers as long as they complete state-sponsored or state-approved training. State regulations require one formal observation and two walkthroughs.
Implementation of District Evaluation Systems
Evaluators receive extensive training in three areas: teaching standards and indicators, rubric scoring, and teacher feedback. Training includes a discussion of how to calibrate ratings to ensure inter-rater reliability.
The state department has produced a set of resources for teachers and evaluators to develop high-quality student learning objectives.
The state department maintains a library of training videos, observation forms, rubrics and manuals.
Transformation of Professional Learning
The state department conducted focus groups with over 2,000 teachers to provide feedback on the development and implementation of the M-STAR rubric.
The state department requires districts to use evaluation results to inform professional learning offerings.
The state department convened an Educator and Leader Effectiveness Steering Committee to propose refinements to the state evaluation model.