AB 1495: Teachers: evaluation.

Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that governing boards of school districts establish a uniform system of evaluation and assessment of the performance of all certificated personnel within each school district of the state. Existing law requires the governing board of each school district to establish standards of expected pupil achievement at each grade level in each area of study and to evaluate and assess certificated employee performance on a continuing basis as it reasonably relates to specified matters, including pupil progress, as provided. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to develop and adopt additional evaluation and assessment guidelines or criteria.

This bill would also require the governing board of each school district to evaluate and assess certificated employee performance as it reasonably relates to pupil achievement and pupil outcomes, if applicable, as provided. The bill would provide that evidence of actual pupil progress may include written reports from classroom observations and data from various sources, including state-adopted criterion referenced assessments. provide, if applicable, multiple measures of pupil progress, pupil academic growth, pupil achievement, and pupil outcomes as used for certain purposes of evaluating and assessing certificated employee performance may include specified sources.

The bill would require an employing authority to utilize use a minimum of 3 rating levels of professional achievement for evaluation and assessment of certificated employees, as provided.

By imposing additional duties on school districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires an evaluation to include recommendations, if necessary, as to areas of improvement in the performance of the employee. Existing law requires or authorizes certain things relating to the evaluation these evaluations to include a requirement that the employee participate in a specified program if a permanent certificated employee receives an unsatisfactory evaluation.

This bill would instead require or authorize these things relating to the evaluation require an employee, if the that employee receives one of the specified rating levels of professional achievement for evaluation and assessment. assessment, to participate in the California Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers if the school district participates in that program. The bill would require, in order to endeavor to assess assist the employee in areas of improvement, the school district to, at minimum, consider the employees eligibility for professional development identified in the school district and applicable schools local control and accountability plan, and prioritize the employees eligibility for professional development, as provided. By expanding the duties of a school district, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.