Professional Growth and Evaluation

At Seattle Public Schools, we know that quality teaching is the number one school-based factor in creating student success.

Working together, Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association reached a historic agreement in September 2010, which, among other things, created a new teacher evaluation system that includes student growth. The new evaluation system is designed to improve and support the quality and innovation of teaching in Seattle Public Schools and ultimately increase the academic success of all students.

Seattle’s student growth rating is based on two years of data and two different tests. Using two years of data on two different tests increases the likelihood that a teacher’s student growth rating will be fair and reliable.

Each year teachers of tested subjects and grades will receive a student growth score on a scale of zero to 100. The two-year combined score will lead to an overall student growth rating of High, Typical or Low.

 

In Seattle Public Schools, we know that quality teaching is the number one school-based factor in creating student success. To ensure quality teaching, we need strong principals who provide instructional leadership.

 

In February 2011, Seattle Public Schools and the Principals Association of Seattle Schools reached a new collective bargaining agreement, which, among other things, created a new principal evaluation system that ties principal performance to their students’ academic growth by measuring student growth over time, Seattle Public Schools will enhance the knowledge and leadership of principals, who work directly with teachers to increase the academic success of all students.

 

Each year principals will receive a rating based on measurement of their school’s growth in student achievement. The rating is based on one year of student achievement in state test scores for reading and math, and compares each school’s growth to the growth of all schools across the state of Washington.

 

A principal with a high student growth rating may be eligible for additional career opportunities. A low student growth rating will trigger increased support.

During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, principals will be eligible to receive student achievement awards for demonstrated progress in student growth at their school.