This paper explores the common elements identified as context variables that may effect student evaluation of instruction, and presents literature from sociology, anthropology, and linguistics that offers renewed challenges to researchers in this area of data interpretation. The common context variables that are seen as effecting student…

"The Practitioner" is subtitled "A Newsletter for the On-Line Administrator." This theme issue is devoted to recent developments in the teacher evaluation process. Contents include a review of research on teacher evaluation, an overview of legal requirements, and examples of outstanding teacher evaluation programs in six high schools. Thirteen…

From a legal perspective, teacher evaluations can be a school's most valuable tool when administrators need to pursue or defend personnel actions. The first step in a practical evaluation process is to determine the evaluation's purpose, and the second is to determine what is to be evaluated. Evaluations should focus on factors that actually…

Utah's involvement with career ladders grew out of the nationwide educational reform movement. The plan was to improve learning by improving the quality of teachers. This could be done by retaining superior teachers, attracting higher quality recruits, and improving teachers' working conditions. In 1984 the Utah Legislature focused on…

Two methodologies for teacher-focused process evaluation--rating scales and systematic observation--are discussed and comments are made about their characteristics and effective utilization to improve teachers' performance. Process evaluation, referring specifically to the act of evaluating what teachers do in their classrooms, may be of formative…

The paper describes the Behaviorally Anchored Supervision System (BASS), an approach to supervision in special education based on the definition of effective instruction developed by the Council for Exceptional Children in 1986. A comprehensive model for excellence in special education is based upon the following four elements: values,…

Intended to be used by administrators, professional staff and community representatives, this set of criteria provides a systematic assessment of secondary Language Arts programs. Possible uses for information generated from these instruments are: (1) establishing program goals; (2) validation of exemplary programs or promising practices; (3)…

Intended to be used by administrators, professional staff and community representatives, this set of criteria provides a schematic assessment of elementary language arts programs. Possible uses for information generated from the instrument are: (1) establishing program goals; (2) validation of exemplary programs or promising practices; (3)…

This paper shares the outcomes of a developmental process designed to create a comprehensive teacher assessment program within a local school district. The paper includes a rationale that helps to explain the need for developing teacher evaluation systems different from most current models, the processes used to create the assessment program, and…

This self-directed program, designed to assist school personnel evaluation procedures, is presented in four parts, each with detailed worksheets. The first part, "The Manual," introduces the program, its purposes, premises, and organization. "Organization for the Development of Personnel Evaluation Procedures," the second part, outlines the steps…

The founder of the Roeper School (Michigan) discusses the role of the administrator in the context of gifed education. Emphasis on the Roeper School program, its nonhierarchical philosophy, and the administrative changes (board composition, teacher evaluation, relationship with parents) which positioned the administrator as facilitator of group…

Identifies district administrators' responsibilities for implementing Tennessee's Comprehensive Education Reform Act. Lists 11 short-range plans concerned with distributing career ladder information and determining and executing staff development and evaluation plans. Suggests 10 questions regarding evaluation and staff development which need to…

Reviews the legal implications of particular types of educational reform in relation to improving teacher quality. Identifies the central legal principles that should shape state action in three areas: entry level teachers, teacher performance, and teacher dismissal. As states develop teacher reform strategies they should consider multiple areas…

Reviews judicial decisions involving school staff evaluation systems. Courts remain reluctant to interfere with the summative evaluation process of a school district. Administrators must apply reasoned, ascertainable standards in employment decisions in order to withstand judicial scrutiny amid the array of legal constraints on the evaluation of…

Presents a teacher evaluation model based on the use of an effective teaching criteria list. Includes two schematic figures. (MD)