Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill dealing with evaluation and assessment standards for teachers and administrators.

Highlights:

-Requires a statewide system of accountability for schools and school districts based in part on growth in student achievement using a value-added assessment model as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Sec. 1). -Assigns the state board the task to develop a policy to invalidate student achievement growth data using a value-added assessment model in any school year when there is a natural disaster or other reason for a temporary closure of schools (Sec. 1). -Instructs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education along with other stakeholders in the education system to define components of effective teaching (Sec. 1). -Mandates the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop grievance procedures for any teacher or administrator aggrieved by any rating from a local board (Sec. 1). -Requires that the state superintendent of education appoint and convene an Educator Evaluation Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the development of a value-added assessment model (Sec. 1). -Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and to the House Committee on Education no later than 60 days prior to the 2011 and the 2012 regular sessions of the legislature regarding the status of the development of the value-added assessment model and the methodology used in such development (Sec. 1). -Establishes that beginning in 2013, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and to the House Committee on Education, no later than March 1st of each year, and at such other times as requested by the committees, regarding the implementation, results, and effectiveness of the value-added assessment model (Sec. 1). -Requires each local board to establish and maintain an accountability relationship and register with the state board in accordance with such rules to show who will be the evaluator(s) of teachers and administrators (Sec. 1). -Specifies that beginning teachers be provided with professional development opportunities and assistance designed to enhance teaching competency during their first 3 years of employment (Sec. 1). -States that if a teacher's evaluation demonstrates that he or she has met the standard for effectiveness as determined by the board, using value-added data, for 3 years during the initial certification or renewal process, a certificate shall be issued or renewed unless the board receives evidence from the local board, through an appeal that justifies discontinuation (Sec. 1). -States that if a teacher's evaluation demonstrates that he or she has not met the standard for effectiveness as determined by the board, using either value-added data or other components of the evaluation, for 3 years during the initial certification or renewal process, the board shall not issue or renew a certificate unless evidence of effectiveness is received from the local board, through an appeal that justifies the issuance of a certificate (Sec. 1). -Specifies that the time a teacher may have spent teaching in another state does not count for this three-year requirement (Sec.1). -Requires that every teacher and administrator be evaluated each year by the local board employing them (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine a standard for highly effective teachers for use by local boards to recognize, reward, and retain teachers who demonstrate a high level of effectiveness (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill dealing with evaluation and assessment standards for teachers and administrators.

Highlights:

-Requires a statewide system of accountability for schools and school districts based in part on growth in student achievement using a value-added assessment model as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Sec. 1). -Assigns the state board the task to develop a policy to invalidate student achievement growth data using a value-added assessment model in any school year when there is a natural disaster or other reason for a temporary closure of schools (Sec. 1). -Instructs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education along with other stakeholders in the education system to define components of effective teaching (Sec. 1). -Mandates the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop grievance procedures for any teacher or administrator aggrieved by any rating from a local board (Sec. 1). -Requires that the state superintendent of education appoint and convene an Educator Evaluation Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the development of a value-added assessment model (Sec. 1). -Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and to the House Committee on Education no later than 60 days prior to the 2011 and the 2012 regular sessions of the legislature regarding the status of the development of the value-added assessment model and the methodology used in such development (Sec. 1). -Establishes that beginning in 2013, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and to the House Committee on Education, no later than March 1st of each year, and at such other times as requested by the committees, regarding the implementation, results, and effectiveness of the value-added assessment model (Sec. 1). -Requires each local board to establish and maintain an accountability relationship and register with the state board in accordance with such rules to show who will be the evaluator(s) of teachers and administrators (Sec. 1). -Specifies that beginning teachers be provided with professional development opportunities and assistance designed to enhance teaching competency during their first 3 years of employment (Sec. 1). -States that if a teacher's evaluation demonstrates that he or she has met the standard for effectiveness as determined by the board, using value-added data, for 3 years during the initial certification or renewal process, a certificate shall be issued or renewed unless the board receives evidence from the local board, through an appeal that justifies discontinuation (Sec. 1). -States that if a teacher's evaluation demonstrates that he or she has not met the standard for effectiveness as determined by the board, using either value-added data or other components of the evaluation, for 3 years during the initial certification or renewal process, the board shall not issue or renew a certificate unless evidence of effectiveness is received from the local board, through an appeal that justifies the issuance of a certificate (Sec. 1). -Specifies that the time a teacher may have spent teaching in another state does not count for this three-year requirement (Sec.1). -Requires that every teacher and administrator be evaluated each year by the local board employing them (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine a standard for highly effective teachers for use by local boards to recognize, reward, and retain teachers who demonstrate a high level of effectiveness (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill dealing with evaluation and assessment standards for teachers and administrators.

Highlights:

-Requires every teacher and administrator who has been employed by a local board to be formally evaluated annually by the board (Sec. 1). -Requires the value-added assessment model to take into account important student factors including special education, eligibility for free or reduced price meals, student attendance, and student discipline (Sec. 1). -Requires any teacher or administrator who fails to meet the standard of performance with regard to effectiveness to be placed in an intensive assistance program designed to address the complexity of the teacher's deficiencies before being re-evaluated (Sec. 1). -Specifies that if the teacher or administrator is determined to be ineffective after completion of the assistance program, the local board is required to initiate termination proceedings (Sec. 1). -Requires that by the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, 50% of each teacher evaluations be based on evidence of growth in student achievement using a value-added assessment model as determined by the state board (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the board to determine a standard for highly effective teachers for use by local boards to recognize, reward, and retain such teachers (Sec. 1) -Specifies that in any year in which there is a natural disaster or any other unexpected event that results in the temporary closure of the school, the student growth data will be invalidated (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text