SUMMARY:  This bill would amend Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to establish a performance-based salary schedule and evaluation instruments for effectiveness of teachers and administrators to include student achievement.

REQUIREMENTS:

• SBOE would be required to develop a model evaluation instrument for each professional employee classification, and local systems would be authorized to use the models [no mention of required to use the model in current law].
• Teacher evaluations ALREADY REQUIRE to take into consideration:
  • Role in meeting school’s student achievement goals, including academic gains of the teacher’s students:
    • A wide range of achievement assessments is already required;
    • If state or other assessments are not available at the time of evaluation, those which are available are used;
  • Observations by the principal and asst. principals during instruction and at other times are taken into consideration  as appropriate;
  • Participation in professional development and application of skills learned are included;
  • Communication and interpersonal skills with students, parents, other teachers, administrators, and other school personnel are considered;
  • Timeliness and attendance for assigned responsibilities are considered;
  • Adherence to system procedures and rules is considered; and
  • Personal conduct while in performance of school duties is considered.
• This bill would add to the above:
  • By July 1, 2011 the SBOE would be required to establish a state-wide, common evaluation instrument that considers student achievement as 50% of the evaluation for teachers and administrators with the remainder based on factors determined SBOE.
  • The instrument would determine the Teacher Effectiveness Measure (TEM) and the Leadership Effectiveness Measure (LEM)
• The following procedures would be followed:
  • All systems that signed a MOU with the state prior January 25, 2010 to participate in Race to the Top would be automatic participants;
  • On and after July 1, 2012 systems willing to participate would  be added;
  • On and after July 1, 2013 by all local systems would be added;
  • Evaluations must be complete by October 1 for the previous school year;
  • Teacher evaluations must include peer evaluations as determined by the SBOE;
  • Local systems may require principals to have anonymous, annual performance evaluations by teachers in the schools
• State Salary Schedule Placement would require:
  • No basis by degrees earned above the bachelor’s degree if earned after January 27, 2010, unless currently enrolled in a program of study for an advanced degree on that date.
  • Local supplements could still apply based on local funding, and they would be expected to include:
    • The nature of duties to be performed;
    • The responsibility of the position;
    • The subject matter or grades to be taught; and/or
    • The experience and performance of the employee.
  • State requirements would apply to all certified professional employees, not just teachers and administrators after the appropriate date above.
  • The SBOE would establish a performance-based salary schedule for all teachers, principals and assistant principals based on the TEM and the LEM to be implemented no later than January 1, 2013.
• There would be a phase-in period:
  • July 1, 2013 for Race to the Top systems’ employees who choose to participate;
  • July 1, 2014 for volunteer systems whose employees choose to participate;;
  • July 1, 2015 for all other systems whose employees choose to participate.