Educator Evaluation and Support

Connecting career advancement with student success

Colorado’s landmark teacher and principal evaluation law S.B.10-191 is in the national spotlight and is expected to pave the way for similar efforts in other states.

The law shifts the focus of career advancement qualifications to demonstrated effectiveness based on student academic growth. With this shift, educators’ effectiveness drives hiring, promotion, professional development, earning and retaining probationary status, dismissal, and contract renewal.

Why now? More than ever before, educators must meet the demands of today’s rapidly shifting society. They deserve ongoing training and support to skillfully address new challenges and meet students’ needs. And they deserve clear, frequent feedback on what’s working and what’s not to ensure every Colorado student is successful.

Rulemaking: Click here to be directed to the Rulemaking Page

Big-picture implementation timeline

June 2010-February 2011 — the State Council for Educator Effectiveness develops proposed recommendations for implementation of S.B. 10-191.
February-March 2011 — the Council hears stakeholder input on the draft recommendations for a statewide educator evaluation system.
April 2011 — the Council submits final recommendations to the state board of education.
August 2011 — all school districts will receive guidance on how to begin preparing for the new educator evaluation system. The Colorado Department of Education will begin a pilot phase with select districts. Details of this pilot process are being discussed.
November 2011 — the state board of education adopts rules for a new statewide evaluation system.
November 2011 — CDE shares a resource bank of assessments, processes, tools and policies school districts can use to improve their evaluation system.
February 2012 — state legislators review the state board’s rules, and approve or veto individual rules.
May 2012 — the state board of education adopts emergency rules if the legislature repeals any provisions during its 2012 legislative session and re-submits to the legislature for review.
August 2013 — the new evaluation system is implemented in all school districts.
2016 — the first year performance evaluations will result in teachers earning or losing non-probationary status.

Contacts

Toby King
Senior Consultant of Educator Evaluation and Support
Colorado Department of Education
king_t@cde.state.co.us
(303) 866-6964