Professional Development: Georgia

Analysis of Georgia's policies

Georgia requires that teachers receive feedback during their annual evaluation conference on their performance. In addition, the state specifies that professional development activities for teachers with unsatisfactory evaluations must be aligned with findings from teacher evaluations.

Citation

Georgia Code 20-2-210 (a) Class Keys Process Guide http://www.gadoe.org/DMGetDocument.aspx/CK%20Process%20Guide%203-23-2011.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F638813A7F7B922BB957CBBF3DA5174DAC5DDBD49843BAD7F8&Type=D

Recommendations for Georgia

Ensure that professional development is aligned with findings from teachers' evaluations.
While Georgia has taken steps to ensure that teachers with unsatisfactory evaluations receive coordinated professional development based on these findings, the state should strengthen this policy by requiring that all teachers receive professional development that is aligned with their evaluation results.

State response to our analysis

Georgia recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. The state added that professional development is also determined through the completion of the CLASS Keys Self-Assessment and Professional Growth Plan. At the beginning of each school year, teachers complete the Self-Assessment to reflect upon previous and current performance on the CLASS Keys standards. After completing the Self-Assessment, the teacher determines areas of growth and includes 1-2 standards on his or her Professional Growth Plan. Also included in the PGP are professional development goals selected by the building administrator based on observations and evaluations as well as any professional development determined by the local district. The final PGP is then approved by the building administrator and put into action by the teacher.

In addition, professional development is determined at the discretion of the local system because Georgia is local control. While opportunities for professional development can be suggested, each system determines and provides the professional development necessary for its teachers.

Last word

Nothing in NCTQ's recommendation suggests that states should dictate the content of the professional development offered, just that the state should require that it is aligned with evaluation results.