Florida School District Adopts Teacher Effectiveness Platform
Flagler County Public Schools (FCPS) is the latest district in Florida to adopt a teacher effectiveness platform to complement its implementation of Charlotte Danielson's 2013 Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument (FFT).
The goal of the district's implementation is to conduct fair and reliable teacher evaluations and use those evaluations to help teachers and administrators engage in collaborative professional development opportunities and ultimately improve teacher effectiveness.
Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument "identifies those aspects of a teacher's responsibilities that have been documented through empirical studies and theoretical research as promoting improved student learning," according to the framework document. The 2013 edition of the FFT has been revised to reflect the implications of the Common Core State Standards on teaching practice.
To assist with teacher evaluations based on the FFT, the the district is implementing two tools from the Teachscape effectiveness platform: Teachscape Focus and Teachscape Reflect. Teachscape Focus is an observation training and assessment system, and the tool is intended to help administrators and teachers develop their understanding of the FFT. Teachscape Reflect is a teacher observation and evaluation management system. According to the company, Teachscape Reflect "will help administrators and teachers focus on specific areas in which teachers can build their skills and collaborate on their professional learning, at both the individual and school level."
"Evaluations are done with teachers, not to teachers," said Vernon Orndorff, Race to the Top coordinator for Flagler County Public Schools, in a prepared statement. "We recognize that teacher evaluations are a high-stakes process and we want to do everything possible to ensure they are conducted collaboratively in a fair and reliable way."
Other Florida school districts that have implemented the Teachscape teacher effeciveness platform include Duval County Public Schools, Escambia County School District, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Liberty County School District, Sumter County School District, and Washington County School District.
Flagler County Public Schools is located in Bunnell, FL and serves more than 12,500 K-12 students in 15 schools and one virtual school.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].