Can LEAs use their own locally developed rubric for teacher evaluations?
Yes. A locally determined performance rubric must be aligned to the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession and contain the four rating categories with similar indicators of performance. The LEA must complete the alignment process found in the OhioES as well as report the ratings in the electronic system.
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How will the evaluation be used to focus professional development for teachers?
As described in the OTES 2.0 Framework, either a Professional Growth Plan or an Improvement Plan will be developed annually. Each plan will be:
- Based upon the results of the evaluation; and
- Aligned to any existing school district or building improvement plan.
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Do observations and walkthroughs have to be scheduled/announced?
This is a district decision. Formal observations may be announced or unannounced. Walkthroughs may be announced or unannounced.
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What is a completed evaluation?
To be considered complete, all required components of the evaluation must be completed. The following components are standard for a complete evaluation, but additional requirements set forth in law or contained in a collective bargaining agreement may be necessary for some evaluations.
Full Evaluation Cycle includes components that must be met annually for teachers on a full evaluation cycle. These required components include:
- Professional Growth Plan or Improvement Plan;
- Formal Holistic Observation followed by conference;
- At least two classroom walkthroughs;
- Formal Focused observation with emphasis on focus area(s)
- Final Summative Conference.
Less Frequent Evaluation Cycle is an option that is available to districts. This cycle requires full evaluation of teachers rated skilled every two years and full evaluation of teachers rated accomplished every three years. In a year the teacher is not fully evaluated, the less frequent evaluation required components include:
- Professional Growth Plan;
- One observation;
- One conference with discussion of progress on Professional Growth Plan.
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What is the impact if an educator’s evaluation is not completed?
- If for any reason an educator’s evaluation is not completed, the educator will be on the full evaluation cycle the following year.
- An educator’s contract status may be impacted, however, this is a local decision. The district should work with its legal counsel and may collaborate with bargaining organizations to determine contract status. An educator for whom an evaluation is not completed is afforded rights established under Ohio law.
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Is high-quality student data (HQSD) a required component in teacher evaluations?
Yes, high-quality student data is a required component in teacher evaluations. For further information on HQSD, see the HQSD Overview page and the HQSD Frequently Asked Questions.
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What flexibility exists in the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System process?
There has always been some flexibility allowed when implementing OTES. For instance, schools have flexibility in defining what an observation or walkthrough might look like in their own unique education setting. Additionally, there is no requirement for a rating on each component on the rubric. The Department encourages teachers and evaluators to collaborate on the use of flexibility options. All educators should clearly understand any local flexibility provided and how the evaluation process will work in each school's unique education setting. To help guide these conversations, the Department has posted a document titled “Impact of Education Settings on Teacher Evaluations.”
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