Texas and North Carolina have exhibited strong levels of commitment to define and enforce standards of competent performance in the teaching profession. To make up for a prior lack of definition of what constitutes teacher effectiveness, both states have developed similar systems of teacher appraisal. In North Carolina, the Teacher Performance…

This report presents findings from the second-year evaluation of the Governor's Educator Excellence Grant (GEEG) program. The GEEG program was federally- and state-funded and provided three-year grants to schools to design and implement performance pay plans from the 2005-06 to 2007-08 school years. GEEG was implemented in 99 high poverty, high…

In this paper we examine the research literature on teacher performance pay. Evidence clearly suggests an upsurge of interest in many states and school districts, however, expanded use of merit pay has been controversial. We briefly review the history of teacher pay policy in the U.S. and earlier cycles of interest in merit or performance-based…

A survey and analysis of various fairness issues related to teacher evaluation and the pursuant legal challenges to placement on the Texas Teacher Career Ladder by the use of a statewide teacher appraisal system are presented in this report. Analysis of legal trends in Texas indicates that strict compliance has been required in situations where…

This project surveyed evening students enrolled in the Office of Occupations Division of the Houston Community College as to their opinions concerning the effectiveness of their instructor. Of the approximately 870 students enrolled, 236 students of "professional educators" responded, and 119 students of teachers who "worked…

This report addresses various issues related to assessment, explaining that assessment is an integral process in all of Texas's Centers for Professional Development of Teachers (CPDTs). Section 1 explains that CPDTs conduct assessment to improve programs continuously, improve the authenticity of the tasks associated with mastery of teaching,…

This paper explores problems inherent in requiring elementary and secondary school social studies teachers to teach economics and be tested with regard to their knowledge of economics without requiring any academic preparation in economic education. Information is based on test scores of 34 elementary and secondary school Texas social studies…

Differences in the Texas Teacher Appraisal System scores of teacher subgroups over 2 years were examined for 2,366 teachers for scores on individual domains, sums of scores of the 1st 4 domains, and overall summary performance scores, as well as appraiser differences. Implications for teacher evaluation are discussed. (SLD)

This Texas edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the third annual look at state policies impacting the teaching profession. It is hoped that this report will help focus attention on areas where state policymakers can make changes that will have a positive impact on teacher…

The Texas Education Agency has been developing materials to address issues related to the Professional Development Appraisal System (PDAS). The PDAS was developed under a legislative mandate to establish a fair and practical appraisal process that acknowledges and reinforces good teaching practices and quality professional development. An…

Teacher evaluation is receiving increasing attention. Texas is the largest state to adopt a statewide appraisal instrument. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in Texas Teacher Appraisal System (TTAS) scores over a period of four years. The sum of scores of the first four individual domains and the overall summary performance…

Texas has responded to its teacher shortage with a program for support and renewal. Its new teacher induction pilot is based on a set of performance standards that define expectations for beginning teachers. The pilot provides a support team of mentors, principals, and teacher educators that helps new teachers collect data and assess their skills…

A review of the literature suggests that student evaluations, contrary to popular belief, can be valid sources of data about teaching performance when care is taken in the planning and administration of the evaluation procedure. This study sought to determine if a difference is made in the assessment of teacher competence when student evaluation…

The Texas Examination of Current Administrators and Teachers (TECAT), is a basic literacy test that was administered to 202,000 practicing educators in March 1986. The test was developed in response to state action for educational reform. The Texas reform legislation provided for redistribution of resources to poorer schools and for salary…

A 15-MONTH EVALUATION RESEARCH STUDY OF THE 1965 SUMMER HEAD START PROGRAMS WAS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. A SCHEMATIC MODEL OF INTERACTING FACTORS OPERATING THROUGH HEAD START PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE AND PREDICT CHANGES IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WAS DEVELOPED. THIS MODEL GENERATED THE EMPIRICAL…