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)]
Alfred Williams HB No. 995
Abstract: Requires the convening of an advisory subcommittee of the Accountability
Commission to report on and make recommendations relative to the evaluation of
teachers and administrators and authorizes school boards to develop and implement the
Teacher Effectiveness and Measurement (TEAM) system to support teacher and
administrator effectiveness.
Advisory subcommittee
Convening
Present law requires the annual, formal evaluation of public school teachers and administrators
through the professional employee evaluation program and requires the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to require the state superintendent to appoint and
convene an Educator Evaluation Advisory Committee (EEAC) for the purpose of making
recommendations relative to such program.
Proposed law requires BESE to require the BESE-established Accountability Commission to
convene an advisory subcommittee of the commission to report on and make recommendations
relative to such program.
Recommendations and reports
Present law requires the EEAC to make recommendations to BESE and the House and Senate
education committees by April 30, 2012, regarding the development of a value-added assessment
model (commonly known as VAM), the identification of measures of student growth for grades
and subjects for which value-added data are not available and for personnel for which
value-added data are not available, and the adoption of standards of effectiveness.
Proposed law requires the Accountability Commission subcommittee to report on and make
recommendations regarding the overall effectiveness of the evaluation program, including but not
limited to any recommendations for changes to BESE policy or present law relative to VAM,
student growth measures, elements of evaluation, and standards of effectiveness. Requires the
subcommittee to hold its first meeting by Sept. 30, 2014, and to submit its initial report by not
later than 60 days prior to the 2015 R.S. Requires a subsequent report by not later than 60 days
prior to the 2016 R.S. Membership
Present law requires the following membership for the EEAC: at least 50% practicing classroom
educators; at least two parents of public school students; two members of each legislative
education committee appointed by the respective chairmen; one member appointed by each
BESE member; and one member appointed by the Associated Professional Educators of La., La.
Assoc. of Educators, La. Federation of Teachers, La. Assoc. of School Superintendents, La.
Assoc. of Principals, and La. Assoc. of Public Charter Schools.
Proposed law requires the Accountability Commission subcommittee to have the following
members:
(1)One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the House speaker.
(2)One member of the Senate appointed by the Senate president.
(3)At least six members who are public school teachers; requires the House speaker and
Senate president to each appoint three teachers and collaborate to ensure that the
following requirements are met:
(a)Two shall teach grades three, four, or five; two shall teach grades six, seven, or
eight; and two shall teach grades nine, 10, 11, or 12.
(b)All shall teach subjects for which value-added data are available.
(c)One shall be appointed from each congressional district of the state.
(4)Each member of the Accountability Commission.
Compensation
Present law provides for the EEAC members to serve without compensation. Proposed law
provides the same for the Accountability Commission subcommittee members.
Teacher Effectiveness and Measurement (TEAM) system
Proposed law authorizes school boards to develop and implement the Teacher Effectiveness and
Measurement (TEAM) system to support teacher and administrator effectiveness. Further
provides that the TEAM system, at a minimum, shall require teachers and administrators to apply
the components of effective teaching as prescribed by BESE; demonstrate knowledge of
cognitive development stages appropriate for their grade and subject area; engage in curriculum
reading and interfacing specific content to student cognitive growth; engage in ongoing training
and practice in testing and measurement of student achievement; demonstrate the ability to
perform data analysis of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. Proposed law also provides the following:
(1)The requirements that the TEAM system:
(a)Require each school board to provide in-service training regarding team building,
collaboration, fostering parent-teacher relationships, and laws governing teacher
and administrator professional behavior.
(b)Provide for peer assistance teams which support teachers and administrators in
key professional areas, including curriculum development, development of critical
thinking skills, and effective student assessment.
(2)The requirement that teachers and administrators employed by a school board that has
implemented the TEAM system be provided with an electronic teacher portfolio to
support and facilitate the evaluation process.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3883(A)(6); Adds R.S. 17:3902.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill.
1. Adds the requirement that BESE require the BESE-established Accountability
Commission to convene an advisory subcommittee of the commission to report on
and make recommendations relative to teacher and administrator evaluation.
2. Instead of requiring BESE to develop and implement the Teacher Effectiveness and
Measurement (TEAM) system to be used by school boards to measure teacher and
administrator effectiveness, authorizes school boards to develop and implement such
system to support such effectiveness.
3.Deletes the following proposed law:
(a)Requirement that the school and district accountability system be based on
multiple indicators of student growth and achievement from multiple data
sources as provided in the TEAM system instead of on a value-added
assessment model.
(b)Requirement that a second evaluation be performed within the next school
year following a teacher's "ineffective" rating and provision that if the teacher
receives a second "ineffective" rating, the local board is authorized rather than
required to initiate termination proceedings. (c)Prohibition against the evaluation of teachers and administrators based
primarily upon the results of a single test.