May districts use the alternative framework to evaluate principals?
No, principals are to use the original framework as outlined here; House Bill 362 only affects the calculations for principals final summative ratings because the simple formula will now replace the Look-up Table for compiling teacher and principal final summative ratings.
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When will Substitute House Bill 362 go into effect?
The effective date is Sept. 11, 2014.
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Are districts required to follow the teacher evaluation changes in Sub. HB 362?
The teacher evaluation changes within Sub. House Bill 362 are permissive, allowing districts the flexibility to choose less frequent evaluation cycles of teachers receiving skilled and accomplished ratings beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, while still providing them with feedback on their work. Additionally, districts have a choice between the current framework or a new alternative teacher evaluation structure, which allows them to choose one of four alternative components to account for 15 percent of the evaluation.
Additionally, districts have a choice between the current framework or a new alternative teacher evaluation structure, which allows them to choose one of four alternative components to account for 15 percent of the evaluation. Beginning in 2015-16, districts selecting the Alternative Framework must choose weights in eTPES for the teacher performance and student growth within a range of 42.5% to 49% while maintaining an equal percentage for each. The district identified alternative component will make up the remaining percentage.
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Do districts need to fully evaluate teachers on limited contracts whose ratings are accomplished or skilled in the year their contracts are expiring?
The law has not changed regarding the required number of observations for teachers on limited or extended limited contracts who are being considered for nonrenewal. See Ohio Revised Code 3319.11 for details.
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Sub. House Bill 362 specifically states “buildings” and “schools.” Does this mean that different school buildings within a single district could be different?
No. A district board of education must make a decision regarding all school buildings within the district when choosing a district evaluation framework. When language states “district or school,” “school” means a community or STEM school.
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Do we have to choose whether or not we are using the alternative framework when the electronic teacher and principal evaluation system (eTPES) district set-up begins in the fall?
Districts will be required to enter a plan in eTPES in the fall regarding how frequently they will evaluate teachers who received accomplished or skilled ratings the previous year. However, the electronic evaluation system will not request that districts submit their choice of a teacher evaluation framework until the winter months. The eTPES fall trainings will review information to support districts in their decisions. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) recommends that districts selecting the alternative framework make the decision in sufficient time to complete the chosen alternative component. ODE will announce a list of department-approved components in August.
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What are the district’s responsibilities for the teachers rated accomplished in 2013-2014?
The answer to this question differs based on whether or not the local board of education approved a policy and collective bargaining agreement before May 10, 2014, that allows for the evaluation of teachers rated accomplished every two years. Evidence of the local policy and the date of board action must be documented in eTPES in fall 2014. This practice may continue until the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
If the local board did not make a decision (by board policy prior to May 10, 2014) to evaluate teachers rated accomplished every two years, the district may elect to evaluate these teachers once every three years per Sub. House Bill 362. This means that a teacher rated accomplished at the end of the 2013-2014 school year will not be formally evaluated again until 2016-2017. If a district elects to evaluate these teachers every three years, an observation, conference and a student growth measure score will be necessary during the year they are not fully evaluated.
For a graphic chart displaying the option explained above for teachers receiving accomplished ratings, click here.
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What are the district’s responsibilities for the teachers rated skilled in 2013-2014?
Teachers rated skilled may be evaluated annually or districts may choose to evaluate them every two years under Sub. House Bill 362. If a district elects to evaluate these teachers every two years, an observation, conference and a student growth measure score will be necessary during the year they are not fully evaluated. The evaluation schedule must be noted in eTPES in the fall of the school year.
For a graphic chart displaying the options explained above for teachers with skilled ratings, click here.
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Are districts required to evaluate through the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System retiring teachers or teachers on leave?
A board of education may elect to not conduct an evaluation of a teacher who: (1) was on an approved leave for 50 percent or more of the school year as calculated by the board; or (2) has submitted notice of retirement and that notice has been accepted by the board not later than December 1 in the school year in which the evaluation is otherwise scheduled to be conducted.
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If a teacher receives a rating of accomplished or skilled in one local education agency and moves to another, does the rating follow that teacher?
Due to security reasons, the eTPES system does not permit a district to see a new hire’s evaluation rating entered by another district. Therefore, the rating entered in eTPES for the teacher evaluation conducted in one district does not follow the teacher to a new district. The teacher will need to have a full annual evaluation in their first year of employment in the new district.
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Will the multi-year Value-Added composite continue for teachers rated skilled and accomplished during the years in which they are not fully evaluated?
While the final summative rating remains unchanged, each year the teacher of Value-Added courses will continue to receive a Value-Added Teacher-Level Report, including a composite. Note that no teachers will receive a multi-year composite in 2015 because of the transition to the new state assessments. In this year, teachers will receive a composite rating, but it will include data from the 2014-15 school year only. Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, teachers once again will receive a multi-year composite if they have two years of data.
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