Parents, Students to Have More Input in Teacher Evaluations

With changes in state law, future teacher evaluations will include input from parents and students, Canton Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jordan Grossman told the Board of Education Tuesday evening.

Barring any delays in implementation on the state level, later this year, parents and students will receive surveys for each relevant teacher in February or March, Grossman said. The exact format is still being worked out. 

The parental feedback will account for 10 percent of a teacher’s evaluation and the student input five percent. 

Under the new evaluation system, "outcomes" of a teacher's "student learning objects" will count for 45 percent and teacher performance and practice will account for 40 percent.

Grossman said he feels Canton's current evaluation system is strong but the new one will involve some further changes. For example, although it was not required, the district chose to change its evaluation rubric – or standards system — to better align with the state.

Board members expressed some concern with the time administrators will need to spend on observations and Grossman acknowledged it could become a large issue statewide and constitutes another "unfunded mandate." 

There is also pressure by some educational groups for the state to delay implantation, arguing for example that the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education’s study of the standards will not likely be ready until 2014.

Still, Grossman felt there are a lot of positives. For example, he feels the student input could be valuable.

“I think it will give the student a voice to offer things they may not have ever shared,” Grossman said.

Those who want to know more about the evaluation process, standards and more, can log on to http://www.connecticutseed.org/