Teacher and Principal Evaluation Policy
The data and analysis on this page is from 2019. View and download the most recent policy data and analysis on Principal Evaluation and Observation in Texas from the State of the States 2022: Teacher and Principal Evaluation Policies report.
Evaluation Frequency: Texas requires annual evaluations for all principals.
Observation/Site Visit Requirements: Texas requires observations. "The appraiser will visit your school during this [data collection] period in order to observe the environment and interact with teachers and other members of the school community." However, it does not appear that multiple observations/site visits are required.
Evaluator Training: Texas requires evaluators to be certified by the state. Periodic recertification and training may be required.
Require multiple observations/site visits for all principals.
To ensure that annual evaluations are based on adequate information, Texas should require multiple observations/site visits for all principals.
Texas recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.
7H: Principal Evaluation and Observation
Research demonstrates that there is a clear link between school leadership and school outcomes.[1] Principals foster school improvement by shaping school goals, policies and practices, and social and organizational structures.[2] Principals vary significantly in their effectiveness, and research suggests that high-quality principals positively affect student achievement, in-school discipline, parents' perceptions of schools, and school climates.[3] Further, principals affect teacher retention and recruitment;[4] effective principals are more adept at retaining effective teachers and removing ineffective teachers.[5] The time principals spend on organizational management, instructional programming, and teacher evaluation is critically important for positive effects on teachers and students.[6] Because principals are an essential component of creating successful schools, their effectiveness should be regularly evaluated by trained evaluators on systems that include objective measures. Such systems will help to ensure that all principals receive the feedback and support necessary to improve their practice and, ultimately, student and school outcomes.