Today's Law As Amended


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SB-657 Teachers: evaluations.(2013-2014)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Article 10.8 (commencing with Section 44655) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

Article  10.8. Teacher Evaluations
44655.
 The Legislature finds and declares that teacher evaluations should be effective, comprehensive, and of high quality. It is the intent of the Legislature that teacher evaluations conducted by local educational agencies be based on standards and ensure that a teacher’s performance is measured against those standards.
44656.
 Evaluation and assessment of teachers at public elementary and secondary schools shall be conducted by local educational agencies in accordance with all of the following:
(a) Evaluations may include multifaceted evidence of teacher practice, pupil learning, and professional contributions that are considered in an integrated fashion, with relation to one another and to the teaching context.
(b) An evaluation system under this article may include both formative and summative assessments to ensure it helps improve teaching and learning.
(c) An assessment used to make judgments about pupils’ progress shall be appropriate for the specific curriculum and pupils being taught.
(d) The formative evaluation process may include the use of unweighted multiple measures, including pupil assessment data.
(e) The development of a comprehensive, performance-based teacher evaluation system shall be a high priority, and it is the intent of the Legislature to provide the public education system with the resources to provide the necessary time and training for evaluators and mentors for teachers needing assistance.
(f) An evaluation under this article shall differentiate based on the teacher’s experience and individual needs. An evaluation under this article shall be accompanied by useful feedback, and shall be connected to professional learning opportunities that are relevant to teachers’ goals and needs, including both formal professional development and peer collaboration, observation, and coaching, using a peer assistance and review system.
(g) An evaluation under this article shall be used to identify a teacher’s needs for professional learning and improved instructional practices.
(h) An evaluator under this article shall be a knowledgeable and trained educator who is trained to give productive feedback and who knows how to support ongoing learning. An expert in the specific teaching field of the teacher being evaluated shall be included in the evaluation process.
(i) The evaluation system under this article shall value and promote teacher collaboration, which supports system improvement, both in the standards and criteria that are used to assess a teacher’s work and the way the results of the evaluation are used to shape a teacher’s professional learning opportunities.
(j) It is the intent of the Legislature that the evaluation system meet legal, professional, and ethical standards for equitable employment decisions. Therefore, evaluation decisions under this article shall be made in an efficient, fair, and effective manner.
(k) This section shall not conflict with any rights pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
44657.
 As used in this article:
(a) “Formative assessment” means an assessment of how well a teacher is meeting the goals and objectives of his or her assignment, and includes feedback to help a teacher being evaluated to improve his or her performance.
(b) “Local educational agency” includes a school district, county office of education, and charter school.
(c) “Summative assessment” means an assessment of the outcomes of the work of the teacher being evaluated.

SEC. 2.

 Article 11 (commencing with Section 44660) of Chapter 3 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code is repealed.

SEC. 3.
  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.