An independent education research group found that 99 percent of Idaho teacher evaluations reviewed in an audit were completed incorrectly — and sometimes illegally.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s State Department of Education asked the Denver-based consulting group McREL International to screen a random sample of evaluations for accuracy and fidelity to Idaho’s evaluations system.
The reviewers concluded that school administrators ignored laws and rules for evaluations or did not understand the evaluations system. As a result, the reviewers recommended new training for “all teachers, teacher supervisors and central office leaders.”
Seven reviewers audited 225 evaluations, and found only three that were completed correctly and followed procedures and the SDE’s guidelines. Auditors randomly pulled 2014-15 evaluations from 53 Idaho districts and charters. (Click here for the: list of districts and charters McREL audited.)
“Inconsistent implementation (of teacher evaluations) suggests that some districts either selected not to follow the prescribed process or lacked sufficient understanding of the system,” McREL’s authors wrote in their “State of Idaho Department of Education: Teacher Evaluation Desk Review Report.” (Click here for the full report: Idaho Desk Review Report Final – revised 7-11-16.)
The audit confirms teacher evaluations are inconsistent and unreliable, and unveils hundreds of errors:
- Most evaluations did not include two classroom observations, as Idaho law requires.
- Most did not include goals of any kind.
- More than one third were turned in late.
“I say it is something that is a good thing,” SDE spokesman Jeff Church said. “It gives us more information and helps us understand where we are with the (evaluation tool) and the challenges we face. I look at the report we have from McREL more as knowledge to have to move forward and support (local districts and administrators).”
The SDE has had the report since July. Idaho Education News obtained the report in December as a result of a public records request. Rob Winslow, the executive director of the Idaho Association of School Administrators, said on Monday he has never seen the report and has never discussed the finding with the SDE.
Idaho law requires teachers to receive at least one written evaluation every year. The state and most school districts use the Charlotte Danielson Framework for teacher model to measure teacher performance and as a basis for evaluations. Principals typically conduct the evaluations are typically conducted, and superintendents include them in reports to the SDE. Superintendents sign an assurance form that they are reporting complete and accurate data to the SDE.
Teacher evaluations are increasingly important in Idaho because the Legislature partially tied the reports to a teacher’s ability to earn a raise. Ybarra is expected to ask the 2017 Legislature to spend $57.8 million of taxpayer money to increase teacher pay.
Via Idaho Ed News