Professional Development: Alaska

Analysis of Alaska's policies

Alaska articulates that teachers are entitled to copies of their evaluations. The state also specifies that evaluation systems must "require the school district to prepare and implement a plan of improvement for a teacher or administrator whose performance did not meet the district performance standards." However, the state does not address whether professional development activities must be aligned with findings from teacher evaluations.

Citation

Alaska Statute 14.20.149 (b) (6)

Recommendations for Alaska

Require that evaluation systems provide teachers with feedback about their performance.
Although Alaska requires teachers to receive copies of their evaluations, this only ensures that teachers will receive their ratings, not necessarily feedback on their performance. Alaska should specify that teachers should receive specific feedback on identified strengths and areas that need improvement.  

Ensure that professional development is aligned with findings from teachers' evaluations.
Professional development that is not informed by evaluation results may be of little value to teachers' professional growth and aim of increasing their effectiveness in the classroom. Alaska should ensure that districts utilize teacher evaluation results in determining professional development needs and activities.

State response to our analysis

Alaska recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.