Teacher Quality and

Evaluation Processes

Samantha Cruz

Welcome!
VisionThe Passaic Public Schools will become the best urban
school system in New Jersey.
MissionThe Passaic Public Schools will provide an excellent
education that prepares our students for college and to earn
high paying jobs.
FocusThe Passaic Public Schools will provide all students the
opportunity to graduate high school with a career certification
and/or a minimum of 15 college credits.

Non-Tenure
WHO?
O Non-tenure individuals who have been hired after the Teacher

Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New

Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act legislation was signed by Governor
Christie on August 6, 2012 are eligible to earn tenure after four
years.
O Individuals who fall under the new evaluation criteria
include:
O Teacher, principal, assistant principal, vice-principal,
assistant superintendent, all school nurses and nursing
staff,, and any other nurse performing school nursing
services school athletic trainer, and any other employees
in positions which require them to hold appropriate
certificates issued by the board of examiners, serving in
any school district or under any board of education.

Non-Tenure
WHEN?
O

Three consecutive calendar years, or any shorter period which may

be fixed by the employing board for such purpose; or

Three consecutive academic years, together with employment at the

beginning of the next succeeding academic year; or

The equivalent of more than three academic years within a period of

any four consecutive academic years.

Non-Tenure
WHY?
O The goal of this legislation is to raise student achievement by
improving instruction through the adoption of evaluations that
provide specific feedback to educators, inform the provision of
aligned professional development, and inform personnel decisions;
O

Changing the current evaluation system to focus on improved

student outcomes, including objective measures of student growth,
is critical to improving teacher effectiveness, raising student
achievement, and meeting the objectives of the federal "No Child
Left Behind Act of 2001

Non-Tenure Timeline
Year 1

Participate in district mentoring

program
Receive evaluations, but
summative rating does not count
towards tenure acquisition

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

To earn tenure, a teacher must receive an Effective

or Highly Effective rating on the annual summative
evaluation in at least two of these three years
The teacher must be employed in the district for
four years

At least three required observations each year.

Each observation must be conducted for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Multiple observers are required.

Years 1 and 2
at least two long observations and one short observation

Years 3 and 4
one long observation and two short observations

Year One

Mentoring
O During first year, all novice teachers are paired with an

experienced teacher to serve as a mentor

O Mentors are expected to observe the novice teacher, share

feedback, model strong practice, and provide confidential

support and guidance

During this first year of mentoring, novice teachers receive an

evaluation, but evaluation results are not linked to tenure
decisions

What does my evaluation look

like?
O Evaluation
O Based on the individuals job description, professional standards

and Statewide evaluation criteria that incorporates analysis of

multiple measures of student progress and multiple data sources

O Includes formal observations, as well as post conferences,

conducted and prepared by an individual employed in the district

in a supervisory role and capacity and possessing a school
administrator certificate, principal certificate, or supervisor
certificate

Ineffective, Developing, Effective, Highly Effective

based on the performance standards for the position
established through the evaluation rubric Danielson Framework

O Rated

Evaluation contd
O

Performed by trained and certified staff

Announced vs. Unannounced

Within the minimum requirements, all teachers must have at least
one unannounced and one announced observation with a preconference.

Non-tenured teachers present for less than 40% total school days
in an academic year
A minimum of 2 observations are required.

Post-conferences
Post-conferences between teachers and supervisors are required
following each observation. These conferences must all be face-toface for non-tenured teachers

Individual Professional
Development Plan
O A written statement of goals developed by a teaching staff member

serving in a supervisory capacity in collaboration with a teaching

staff member
O Aligns with professional standards for teachers set forth in
N.J.A.C.6A:9-3.3 and the New Jersey Professional Development
Standards
O Identifies professional goals that address specific individual,
district or school needs, or both
O Grounds professional development activities in objectives
related to improving teaching, learning, and student achievement

O Plan shall include timelines for implementation, responsibilities of

the employee and the school district for implementing the plan, and
specific support and periodic feedback that the district shall
provide.

Student Growth Objectives

O

All teachers must set one or two in consultation with their

supervisor by October 31; if a teacher does not agree with the SGO,
the principal makes the final decision
O

Teachers who are not expected to receive an SGP score must

set two SGOs

Districts determine the required number of SGOs for all SGP

teachers in the district (one or two)

Modifications may be made prior to February 15 with the

approval of the Superintendent/CSA

Corrective Action Plan

O

CAP Development:
O Required for all staff members rated Ineffective or Partially Effective on the last
annual summative evaluation
O Replaces the teachers PDP from the time of that annual summary conference to the
next
O Must be developed collaboratively by the teacher and principal (or designee)
Observations:
O Teachers must have a minimum of two observers throughout the year
O Teachers must have at least one extra observation for a minimum of 20 minutes
with a post-conference
Mid-year evaluation:
O May be combined with a post-observation conference.
O If CAP was created on or prior to September 15, the mid-year evaluation or extra
observation must be
O completed by February 15
Content:
O Description of the teachers deficiencies
O Timelines for corrective action
O Responsibilities of the individual teaching staff member and the district, including
actions and professional learning activities to improve the staff members
performance

Resources
O

NJEA
O

NJ Legislative
O

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/PL12/26_. PDF

Legal Requirements
O

https
://www.njea.org/news/2013/03/08/proposed%20teacher%20evaluation%20reg
s%20introduced/teacher-evaluationfaqs

https://bb.wpunj.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1425763-dt- content
-rid-5138190_1/courses/201640-EDLP6090-62/legalrequirements.pdf-teac
her%20evaluation%20and%20tenure%
20cases.pdf

Achieve NJ
O

http://www.state.nj.us/education/AchieveNJ/