Teacher Evaluation: A Comprehensive Guide to New Directions and Practices

This handbook advocates a new approach to teacher evaluation as a cooperative effort undertaken by a group of professionals. Part 1 describes the need for changed teacher evaluation, and part 2 outlines ways to use multiple data sources, including student and parent reports, peer review of materials, student achievement results, teacher tests, documentation of professional activity, systematic observation, and administrator reports, as well as discussions of the teacher as curriculum designer and data sources to avoid. Part 3 describes tools for improved teacher evaluation, and the evaluation of other educators is outlined in part 4. School district responsibilities and activities are described in part 5. This edition adds new chapters on: (1) the role of the principal in changed teacher evaluation; (2) how districts can transform current practice; (3) use of national standards; (4) developments in using student achievement data; and (5) the development of sociologically sophisticated teacher evaluation systems. Emphasis is placed on the use of the Internet as a resource and other new resources for local development. A list of legal cases cited is included. (Contains 343 references.) (SLD)