Signed by Governor Chris Gregoire

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes evaluation criteria for all classroom teachers, principals, superintendents, and administrators.

Highlights:

• Requires school districts to use “student growth” data to evaluate the performance of classroom teachers and principals for at least 3 of the following 8 predetermined evaluation criteria (Sec. 1):
• Centering instruction on high expectations for student achievement;
• Demonstrating effective teaching practices;
• Recognizing individual student learning needs and developing strategies to address those needs;
• Providing clear and intentional focus on subject matter content and curriculum;
• Fostering and managing a safe, positive learning environment;
• Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning;
• Communicating and collaborating with parents and the school community; and
• Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focused on improving instructional practice and student learning.

• Defines “student growth” as the change in student achievement between 2 points in time (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the use of input from students and building staff in the process of evaluating teachers (Sec. 1).

• Establishes 4 performance ratings for classroom teachers and principals (Sec. 1):
• Level 1, unsatisfactory;
• Level 2, basic;
• Level 3, proficient; and
• Level 4, distinguished.

• Specifies that a teacher or a principal will not be judged “satisfactory” if he or she is given either of the following ratings (Sec. 1):
• Level 1; or
• Level 2 if the teacher is a continuing contract employee with more than 5 years of teaching experience and if the Level 2 rating has been received for 2 consecutive years, or for 2 years within a consecutive 3-year time period.

• Requires school districts to place teachers who have not been judged “satisfactory” on probation for at least 60 days (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes school districts to refuse to renew the employment contract of a teacher who has received a Level 1 evaluation in his or her third year of employment (Sec. 7).

• Requires the board of directors in each school district to create a schedule for the implementation of the new evaluation criteria beginning with the 2013-2014 school year for all of the following individuals (Sec. 1):
• Teachers and principals who have less than 3 years of experience;
• Teachers who are on probation;
• Principals not judged as “satisfactory”; and
• Principals previously employed by a different school district in Washington and who are in their first full year as a principal in the new school district.

• Requires the new evaluation criteria for teachers and principals to be fully implemented by the 2015-2016 school year (Sec. 1).

• Requires that all classroom teachers and principals receive a comprehensive evaluation of all 8 criteria as follows (Sec. 1):
  
  • At least once every 4 years; or
  • At least 1 time per year for:
  • Any teacher or principal with less than 3 years of experience;
  • Principals previously employed by a different school district in Washington and who are in their first full year as a principal in the new school district; and
  • Any teacher or principal who received a comprehensive evaluation of level 1 or 2 in the previous school year.

Full Bill Text