Signed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends public school evaluation procedures.

Highlights:

• Requires the district school superintendent to annually report evaluation results of instructional personnel and school administrator evaluation systems based on the following criteria (Sec. 2):
• Student performance;
• Instructional practice;
• Instructional leadership; and
• Professional and job responsibilities.

• Establishes the following four levels of performance, and requires the Commissioner of Education to consult with experts in developing the criteria for the performance levels (Sec. 2):
• Highly effective;
• Effective;
• Needs improvement or developing; or
• Unsatisfactory.

• Requires that evaluations be conducted for each employee once a year, with the exception of first year teachers, who will be evaluated twice in their first year (Sec. 2).

• Requires that 50 percent of performance evaluation be based on student learning growth (Sec. 2).

• Requires that beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, each school district will measure student learning growth using the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, that beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, the district will administer for each course offered a student assessment that measures mastery of content including (Secs. 2, 3):
• Statewide assessments;
• Other standardized assessments, including nationally recognized standardized   assessments;
• Industry certification examinations; and
• District-developed or district-selected end-of-course assessments.

• Specifies that by July 1, 2014, the board shall adopt a performance based salary schedule in which teachers classified as “highly effective” get a salary increase (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends public school evaluation procedures.

Highlights:

• Requires the district school superintendent to annually report evaluation results of instructional personnel and school administrator evaluation systems based on the following criteria (Sec. 2):
• Student performance;
• Instructional practice;
• Instructional leadership; and
• Professional and job responsibilities.

• Establishes the following four levels of performance, and requires the Commissioner of Education to consult with experts in developing the criteria for the performance levels (Sec. 2):
• Highly effective;
• Effective;
• Needs improvement or developing; or
• Unsatisfactory.

• Requires that evaluations be conducted for each employee once a year, with the exception of first year teachers, who will be evaluated twice in their first year (Sec. 2).

• Requires that 50 percent of performance evaluation be based on student learning growth (Sec. 2).

• Requires that beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, each school district will measure student learning growth using the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, that beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, the district will administer for each course offered a student assessment that measures mastery of content including (Secs. 2, 3):
• Statewide assessments;
• Other standardized assessments, including nationally recognized standardized   assessments;
• Industry certification examinations; and
• District-developed or district-selected end-of-course assessments.

• Specifies that by July 1, 2014, the board shall adopt a performance based salary schedule in which teachers classified as “highly effective” get a salary increase (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text