Unsatisfactory Evaluations: Kentucky

Analysis of Kentucky's policies

Kentucky requires that teachers who have unsatisfactory observation results as part of an evaluation have multiple observations the following year. However, the state does not address whether teachers who receive unsatisfactory evaluations must be placed on improvement plans or whether consequences ensue from having two unsatisfactory evaluations.

Citation

704 KAR 3:345, Sec. 4(2)(g)

Recommendations for Kentucky

Require that all teachers who receive unsatisfactory evaluations be placed on improvement plans.
Kentucky should adopt a policy requiring that teachers who receive even one unsatisfactory evaluation be placed on structured improvement plans. These plans should focus on performance areas that directly connect to student learning and should list noted deficiencies, define specific action steps necessary to address these deficiencies and describe how and when progress will be measured.

Make eligibility for dismissal a consequence of unsatisfactory evaluations.
Teachers who receive two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations or have two unsatisfactory evaluations within five years should be formally eligible for dismissal, regardless of whether they have tenure. Kentucky should adopt a policy that ensures that teachers who receive such unsatisfactory evaluations are eligible for dismissal. 

State response to our analysis

Kentucky recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.