Paraprofessionals in education have become specialists, who are more accurately described as paraeducators. Paraeducators work alongside their professional colleagues and participate in the delivery of instruction and related services. This pamphlet provides information about strategies that can improve the deployment, supervision, and training of…

This paper offers suggestions for using portfolios to assess teacher performance. Key policy decisions that should be addressed prior to preparation of the portfolios include purpose, domains, audience, administrative matters, technical issues, and legal issues. After these policy decisions have been made, guidelines for portfolio design--its…

This policy guide argues the need for improved indicators of student coursework, illustrates the information that different types of measures convey, outlines the key choices that need to be made about data collection, and suggests ways in which states might develop more valid and useful indicators of student coursework. In its broadest form,…

Litigation in the area of teacher evaluation has developed around issues concerning the processes and criteria used by school districts in conducting evaluations. Following an introduction explaining basic concepts, chapter 2 discusses the appropriate content of teacher evaluation, examining formal adoption of evaluation policies, compliance with…

Since July 1, 1985, all new faculty appointed to tenure-track positions in the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) have been subject to a promotion process which has been modified twice in the past 2 years. In addition, a new evaluation procedure and instrument have been adopted, and a competitive "Merit Step Advancement" feature has been…

Compiled as a resource guide for faculty development programs, this manual presents a collection of ideas, materials, and resources designed to increase the effectiveness of adjunct staff members in postsecondary occupational education. After a statement of the manual's purpose, the next section provides a perspective on disadvantages facing…

Described here are the planning and development stages of the Teacher Performance Evaluation (TPE) system and the Administrator Performance Evaluation (APE) system that are components of the School Improvement Model project undertaken by schools in Iowa and Minnesota. One goal is an evaluation system tailored to fit the needs of the school…

This booklet contains samples of forms used to evaluate, monitor, and document activities of the 12th Cycle Norfolk Teacher Corps Project at Norfolk State College (Virginia). The forms are contained in five sections: (1) evaluating inservice teachers and teacher interns (five forms); (2) monitoring parent aides (one form); (3) evaluating community…

Multicultural and nonsexist assessment item banks for school use in planning and assessing of its multicultural and nonsexist education programs are provided. Questionnaires emphasizing local purposes and conditions can be developed for teacher self-assessment and for faculty, parents, students, and support staff to assess and redirect school and…

This packet is the second of five developed as a set of self-appraisal instruments with which teachers (and others) can systematically examine their instruction methods in communication skills. The packet contains forms for teachers, students, administrators, and parents addressing two levels of specificity: responses to the overall communication…

Provides a model for a collegial support system--an alternative to administrator-conducted supervision of teachers--that allows administrators to move from a directive to a supportive role with teachers. (JW)

The first few years of teaching are the most challenging. During these years, teachers are most likely to become discouraged and disillusioned. Yet these early years are also the time when teachers establish practices that last throughout their careers. This book focuses on new teachers' needs while emphasizing high-quality teaching through the…

This brief notes that very few states have developed comprehensive policies to improve and support their teaching force as they implement other education reforms. In creating a coherent system of teacher support, one important place to begin is with the state board of education, which has broad authority over teacher preparation and licensure.…

This publication assembles the most current research on professional development and change for teachers looking to accelerate their professional growth and the improvement of student learning. Designed as a how-to resource, it reviews the stages of building an effective professional development system. The seven chapters are: (1) "Developing a…

Outlines three major phases of development experienced by student teachers: mastery of basic instructional techniques, developing sensitivity to pupil-teacher interaction, and overall analysis and evaluation of teaching effectiveness. Activities and techniques are presented for preservice training or inservice self-evaluation. (Author/AM)