Identifying Effective Teachers Policy
Commendably, Idaho requires that objective evidence of student learning be the preponderant criterion of its teacher evaluations.
Idaho's new regulations require that, as of June 30, 2012, the second portion of a teacher's annual evaluation must comprise at least 50 percent of the total written evaluation and must be based on objective measures of growth in student achievement. Classroom observations are also required.
Utilize rating categories that meaningfully differentiate among various levels of teacher performance.
To ensure that the evaluation instrument accurately differentiates among levels of teacher performance, Idaho should require districts to utilize multiple rating categories, such as highly effective, effective, needs improvement and ineffective. A binary system that merely categorizes teachers as satisfactory or unsatisfactory is inadequate.
Idaho recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.