HLS 14RS-1426 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 949
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER
TEACHERS/EVALUATION: Provides relative to evaluation of teachers and administrators
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3902(B)(introductory paragraph), (3), and (5) and to enact2
R.S. 17:3902(E), relative to the evaluation of teachers and administrators; to provide3
for procedures for observation and evaluation; to provide for use of evidence of4
growth in student achievement in evaluations and for implementation thereof; to5
require the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, working with the6
Department of Education and the Accountability Commission, to assess the7
evaluation system and take certain actions relative to the system; and to provide for8
related matters.9
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:10
Section 1. R.S. 17:3902(B)(introductory paragraph), (3), and (5) are hereby11
amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:3902(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows: 12
ยง3902. Evaluation program; process13
* * *14
B. The elements of evaluation and standards for effectiveness shall be15
defined by the state board pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated for such16
purpose. Such rules and regulations shall require that, at a minimum, local evaluation17
plans contain the following elements:18
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HB NO. 949
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(3) Observation and conferencing. The evaluator or evaluators of each1
teacher or administrator shall conduct a pre-observation conference during which the2
teacher or administrator shall provide the evaluator or evaluators with relevant3
information. A teacher shall provide information concerning the planning of the4
lesson to be observed as well as any other information the teacher considers5
pertinent. The observation shall occur at a time and place established in advance,6
shall be of sufficient duration to provide meaningful data which, in the case of a7
teacher, shall be not less than the duration of one complete lesson. In the case of a8
teacher, the observation shall be conducted using the components of effective9
teaching, as well as any additional local board criteria included in the job description.10
In the case of an administrator, the observation may consist of the collection of11
prescribed performance documentation and shall be conducted using applicable12
components of effective teaching, elements prescribed by board rule, and any13
additional local board criteria included in the job description. The evaluation shall14
include the preparation and submission by each evaluator of a written statement of15
actual evidence observed during observation and conferencing that substantiates the16
evaluator's score for each component or criterium scored as part of the evaluation.17
A post-observation conference shall be conducted to discuss commendation and18
recommendations.19
* * *20
(5) Measure of effectiveness. By the beginning of the 2012-2013 2015-201621
school year, for grades three through eight fifty twenty-five percent of such22
evaluations shall be based on upon evidence of growth in student achievement using23
a value-added assessment model or models as determined by the state board, and24
twenty-five percent shall be based upon student learning targets. For grades25
kindergarten through two and nine through twelve, fifty percent of such evaluations26
shall be based upon student learning targets. For all grades, the remaining fifty27
percent of such evaluations shall be based upon professional practices. for grade28
levels and subjects for which value-added data is available. For grade levels and29 HLS 14RS-1426 ORIGINAL
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subjects for which value-added data is not available and for personnel for whom1
value-added data is not available, the board shall establish measures of student2
growth. The model If more than one value-added model is used, the models shall be3
structured to assure that all teachers are equally accountable and all administrators4
are equally accountable. Any such model or models shall take into account5
important student factors, including but not limited to special education, eligibility6
for free or reduced price meals, student attendance, and student discipline. The state7
board shall develop and adopt a policy to invalidate such student growth data for any8
teacher for any school year in which there is a natural disaster or any other9
unexpected event that results in the temporary closure of the school.10
* * *11
E.(1) The state board, working with the Department of Education and the12
Accountability Commission established by the state board, shall assess Louisiana's13
evaluation programs for teachers and school administrators and the school and14
district accountability system and shall take such steps as are necessary to align such15
programs and systems, including but not limited to the promulgation of rules and the16
identification of any statutory changes necessary to achieve greater alignment and17
consistency among school, district, administrator, and educator levels. 18
(2) The state board shall take such steps as are necessary, including but not19
limited to the promulgation of rules and the identification of any necessary statutory20
changes, to provide for school administrators to utilize a consistent method of21
evaluating teachers, regardless of grade or subject taught, considering all available22
information on student achievement, and to provide that all teachers are equally23
accountable and all administrators on comparable levels are equally accountable.24
(3) The state board shall submit a report of its findings and any25
recommendations for legislative action to the House Committee on Education, the26
Senate Committee on Education, and the presiding officers of both houses of the27
Legislature of Louisiana no later than sixty days prior to the 2015 regular session.28 HLS 14RS-1426 ORIGINAL
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Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not1
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature2
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If3
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become4
effective on the day following such approval.5
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Schroder HB No. 949
Abstract: Relative to the evaluation of teachers and administrators, provides for procedures
for observation and evaluation and for use of evidence of growth in student
achievement and for implementation thereof. Requires BESE to assess evaluation
systems and accountability systems and take specified actions relative to them.
Present law provides for evaluation of teachers and administrators of local school systems
and educators employed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE). Defines "local board" as a city or parish school board or BESE as it relates to
educators employed by BESE. Defines "board" to mean BESE. Requires BESE to define
the elements of evaluation and standards for effectiveness. Requires at a minimum that
evaluation plans contain: a job description; a professional growth plan; observation and
conferencing; classroom visitation; and measure of effectiveness. Provides more specifically
relative to each of these. Provides for an intensive assistance program to address
deficiencies of an ineffective teacher.
Present law, relative to observation and conferencing, requires evaluators to conduct a pre-
observation conference during which the teacher or administrator provides relevant
information such as lesson planning and other pertinent information. Requires that
observation be at least for one full lesson. Requires that for teachers the observation use
components of effective teaching and any additional local board criteria included in the job
description, and for administrators the observation may consist of collection of prescribed
performance documentation and may use applicable components of effective teaching,
elements prescribed by BESE rule, and any additional local board criteria included in the job
description. Requires a post-observation conference.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires that the evaluation include
preparation and submission by each evaluator of a written statement of actual evidence
observed during observation and conferencing that substantiates the evaluator's score for
each component or criterium scored as part of the evaluation.
Present law, relative to measure of effectiveness, requires that by the beginning of the 2012-
2013 school year, 50% percent of an evaluation be based on evidence of growth in student
achievement using a value-added assessment model (VAM) as determined by BESE for
grade levels and subjects for which value-added data is available. Requires BESE to
establish measures of student growth for grade levels and subjects and for personnel for
which value-added data is not available. Requires that the model take into account important
student factors, such as special education, eligibility for free or reduced price meals, student
attendance, and student discipline. HLS 14RS-1426 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 949
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Proposed law provides for implementation of a value-added model or models by the
beginning of the 2015-2016 school year instead of the 2012-2013 school year. Requires that
25% percent instead of 50% of an evaluation be based on evidence of growth in student
achievement using such a VAM model and makes this requirement applicable only to grades
3 - 8. Further provides that for grades 3 - 8, 25% of evaluations shall be based upon student
learning targets. Provides that for grades K-2 and 9-12, 50% of evaluations shall be based
upon student learning targets. Provides that for all grades, the remaining 50% of evaluations
shall be based upon professional practices. Removes provision that such VAM model be as
determined by BESE for grade levels and subjects for which value-added data is available,
and that BESE establish measures of student growth for grade levels and subjects and for
personnel for which value-added data is not available. Provides instead that evidence of
growth in student achievement use a VAM model or models determined by BESE.
Requires, if more than one VAM model is used, that the models shall be structured to assure
that all teachers are equally accountable and all administrators are equally accountable.
Proposed law requires BESE, working with the Dept. of Education and the Accountability
Commission established by BESE, to assess Louisiana's teacher and school administrator
evaluation programs and the school and district accountability system and take action to
align such programs and systems, including promulgation of rules and identification of
statutory changes necessary to achieve greater alignment and consistency among school,
district, administrator, and educator levels. Requires BESE to take steps, including
rulemaking and identification of necessary statutory changes, to provide for school
administrators to utilize a consistent method of evaluating teachers, regardless of grade or
subject taught, considering all available information on student achievement and to provide
that all teachers are equally accountable and all administrators on comparable levels are
equally accountable. Requires BESE to report findings and recommendations for legislative
action to the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the
presiding officers of both houses of the Legislature no later than 60 days prior to the 2015
R.S.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3902(B)(intro. para.), (3), and (5); Adds R.S. 17:3902(E))