Identifying Effective Teachers Policy
Colorado's requirements for licensure advancement and
renewal are not based on evidence of teacher effectiveness.
In Colorado, to advance from a Provisional to a
Professional license, the state requires that teachers successfully complete an
approved induction program and are recommended by the local district providing
the program.
Colorado also does not include evidence of
effectiveness as a factor in the renewal of a professional license. Colorado
requires teachers to renew their professional license every five years by
completing six semester hours of college/university credit or 90 clock hours of
professional development. Teachers with
a master's certificate need to renew their licenses every seven years.
Require evidence of effectiveness as a part of teacher licensing policy.
Colorado should require evidence of teacher effectiveness to be a factor in determining whether teachers can renew their licenses or advance to a higher level license. The state should use evidence of effectiveness from its strong teacher evaluations as a factor in determining whether teachers advance to the next licensure level (see Goal 3-B). However, states must consider carefully how to use this evidence, as the standard for denying licensure—the right to practice in the state—should not necessarily be the same standard that might result in termination from a particular position.
Discontinue license renewal requirements with no direct connection to classroom effectiveness.
While targeted requirements may potentially expand teacher knowledge and improve teacher practice, Colorado's general, nonspecific coursework requirements for license renewal merely call for teachers to complete a certain amount of seat time. These requirements do not correlate with teacher effectiveness.
Colorado was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts that enhanced this analysis.