Center for Effective School Improvement
The Center for Effective School Improvement (CESI) is a program funded through the American Federation of Teachers' Innovation Grant to develop teacher capacity to lead, plan development and consensus building for the Local Initiative Schools and Public Schools Choice Schools.
Click here to see how you can become and Teacher-Leader Associate and apply for the program.
UTLA's Teacher Development and Evaluation Framework
The Teacher Development and Evaluation Framework (TDEF) document presents a vision for implementing the Supporting Better Teaching and Learning (SBT&L) Policy Statement (below) passed by the UTLA Board of Directors November 10, 2010 and adopted by the UTLA House of Representatives November 17, 2010. The plan is the product of over a year's work by the Teacher Effectiveness Work Group, chaired first by UTLA Treasurer David Goldberg and currently by Secondary Vice-President Gregg Solkovits. Group members relied on extensive research as well as the experiences of UTLA members and staff, California Teachers Association (CTA) and AFT staff, and others with expertise in evaluation, professional development, and additional relevant areas.
UTLA's Teacher Development and Evaluation Framework (TDEF) document
Teacher Development and Evaluation Framework presentation | Script
UTLA promotes union evaluation plan in wake of judge’s ruling (UT Jun. 2012)
UTLA shares evaluation plan to improve support and development of teachers (UT Jan. 2012)--
UTLA 10-point Policy Statement (Executive Summary)
- Passed the UTLA House of Representatives in November 2010Working Draft Teacher Evaluation and Development Summary (powerpoint presentation)-
Research, studies, articles and analysis related to Teacher Evaluation
Background
In August 2010, UTLA formed a teacher effectiveness workgroup to develop a set of recommendations on teacher evaluation. LAUSD teachers have long been critical of the current teacher evaluation system that seldom provides meaningful feedback on the quality of their teaching. In recent months, of course, teacher evaluation has taken center stage in the school reform debates. Some highlights:
- In April 2010, an LAUSD teacher effectiveness task force released its recommendations for a three-phased plan for staff evaluations. These recommendations call for a redesigned teacher and principal evaluation process, differentiated compensation and career ladders, a restructured tenure process, support mechanisms, and legislative action steps.
- In August 2010, the Los Angeles Times published a series of articles about the effectiveness of teachers in LAUSD schools. The Times also published a database of names along with the effectiveness ratings based on test score results.
- In August 2010, the LAUSD Board of Trustees called for new teacher evaluations based in part on teachers' ability to raise student test scores.
- In September 2010, a group of business and civic leaders urged the LAUSD Board of Trustees to develop a new teacher evaluation system that incorporates student test scores.
Throughout 2011, UTLA's TEW presented the framework to its members through multiple forums in a variety areas to receive feedback. The framework was very well received by its members.
In 2012, UTLA produced a framework that has been passed as policy by both the House and the BOD in spring 2012. See above documents for details.
