- Washington Launches Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot
- USDE Announces Race to the Top Common Assessment Grant Program
- REMINDER: Districts have until May 17 to sign up for Race to the Top!
Washington Launches Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot
During the 2010 legislation session, the passage of Washington’s Race to the Top bill (SB 6996) put the state on track to improve teacher effectiveness through the adoption of a new teacher and principal evaluation system.
While all districts will be required to adopt new evaluation systems by 2013-14—including a four-tiered rating scale that supports the use of student growth data—the legislation provides forward-thinking districts the opportunity to pilot new educator evaluation models starting this fall.
Pilot districts have the chance to blaze the trail in the implementation of a statewide teacher and principal evaluation system. Each pilot district will be responsible for developing and implementing a new multi-tiered evaluation model designed to provide meaningful feedback to teachers and principals.
By providing the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and its stakeholder groups with critical evaluation information, these districts will not only help to establish best practices for the state, but inform OSPI’s recommendation to the legislature regarding whether or not to adopt one or more evaluation models for use by Washington districts, as well.
Data from the pilots will also help the state determine how best to assist schools and districts to improve instruction and student achievement. For this reason, gathering a diverse group of pilot districts will be vital to establishing a new and improved system that meets the needs of all Washington teachers and students.
Ultimately, the success of these pilots will be critical to moving the state toward adopting a common model, which will result in increased transparency and the ability to compare data between districts.
Districts selected for evaluation pilot grants will receive $100,000 to $200,000 a year, for two years, and additional implementation support from OSPI. Applications for the evaluation pilots must be submitted to OSPI by by 4:00 P.M. on Friday, May 28, 2010.
Districts interested in learning more can participate in a video conference through the state’s K-20 network tomorrow, Tuesday, April 27, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
For more information, please read this memorandum issued by OSPI or visit their website.
USDE Announces Race to the Top Common Assessment Competition
On April 8, the Department of Education released the final guidelines for the Race to the Top Common Core Assessment Competition. This $350 million competitive grant program will be awarded to consortia of states who develop assessments that are valid, support and inform instruction, provide accurate information about what students need to know and can do, and measure student achievement to determine if students are on track to succeed in college and the workplace.
The development of Common Core Assessments is an exciting and welcome addition to the education system. Under the program, assessments must be aligned to the Common Core mathematics and English language arts standards, which will allow the ability to compare student achievement at a national, state and local level, for the first time ever. Currently, each state has developed its own standards, curriculum and assessments making it difficult to truly compare and assess student achievement on a national scale. By establishing Common Core Standards and Assessments, this barrier is removed and a greater level of transparency, analysis and collaboration in our education system is created.
Two grant awards are available within the Race to the Top Assessment Competition – each designed to develop assessments that would assist teachers and principals in identifying and monitoring student learning.
Comprehensive Assessment System
- Assessment is designed to align with the Common Core mathematics and English language arts standards.
- Only one to two state consortia will be awarded grant funding of up to $160 million over a 48-month period.
High School Course Assessment Program
- Assessment is designed to cover multiple high school courses and measure student knowledge against college-and-career ready standards.
- Only one consortium will be awarded grant funding of up to $30 million over a 48-month period.
Washington state has joined with 27 other states to form the SMARTER/MOSAIC/Balanced consortia. This consortia seeks to win a Comprehensive Assessment System grant by developing computer adaptive, curriculum-embedded formative and summative assessments. It is the vision of the SMARTER/MOSAIC/Balanced consortia that through a series of student adaptive and tailored computer assessments, data scores will allow for teachers and principals to better identify student needs and provide targeted instruction, as well as ensure that students are provided tests on the subject areas that reflect their knowledge-base.
Between now and June 23, when consortia applications are due to the Department of Education, Washington state will continue to play a key role in the development of the SMARTER/MOSAIC/Balanced consortia proposal. Winning applications will be announced in Fall 2010 with lead states required to implement the assessment system in their state no later than 2014-15.
To learn more about the Race to the Top Common Core Assessment Competition view Partnership for Learning’s At-A-Glance here.
REMINDER: Districts have until May 17 to sign up for Race to the Top!
There's only three weeks left for districts to sign on to Washington's Race to the Top Application. In order to sign on, districts must sign the state's Partnership Agreement. Districts are also strongly encouraged to join one of the application's Innovation Clusters geared toward accelerating student achievement.
For an analysis of what districts will need to do to sign on to
Washington's Race to the Top application versus what is already present
in Washington law, read this helpful summary.
To learn more,
visit: www.waracetopthetop.org