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What is the legal basis for the Massachusetts Educator Evaluation Framework and where can I find information on its requirements?
The regulations on educator evaluation were adopted pursuant to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's statutory authority and consistent with existing statutory requirements: M.G.L. c.69, sec. 1B and c.71 sec. 38. More details on the requirements of the regulations are available on DESE's educator evaluation website. In particular, please see the Regulations for the Evaluation of Educators, 603 CMR 35.00 and the Quick Reference Guide on the MA Educator Evaluation Framework .
Which types of schools are covered under the regulations?
All district schools and Horace Mann charter schools are subject to the educator evaluation regulations. Educators serving in programs or schools operated by Educational Collaboratives are also covered by the regulations. Commonwealth Charter Schools are not covered by the regulations.
Which types of educators are covered under the regulations?
The regulations apply to all teachers, principals, superintendents, and other staff in positions that require a DESE-issued teacher, specialist, professional support personnel, or administrative license (603 CMR 35.00). For a list of DESE-issued licenses, review the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval (603 CMR 7.04 (3)), Licenses and Routes for Administrators (603 CMR 7.09), Types of Vocational Technical Teacher Licenses (603 CMR 4.07), Types of Vocational Technical Administrator Licenses (603 CMR 4.08), and Types of Vocational Technical Cooperative Education Coordinator Licenses (603 CMR 4.09).
What was the implementation timeline for the regulations?
The regulations were implemented as follows:
Do the regulations remove evaluation as a subject of mandatory collective bargaining?
No. The MA statutes regarding evaluation and collective bargaining have not changed. The regulations established a more comprehensive set of requirements ("principles") of evaluation than prior regulations. All districts are required to include specified core elements in their evaluation systems, but other features are collectively bargained at the local level.
Are video observations allowed by the regulations?
Yes. The regulations permit the use of video. How video is used in evaluation is subject to collective bargaining and appropriate laws relating to student privacy.
Is peer review permissible under the regulations?
Yes. The regulations permit peer assistance and review programs, if agreed upon during the collective bargaining process at the local level.
How does DESE monitor educator evaluation implementation?
DESE monitors implementation through a variety of mechanisms, including reviewing districts' evaluation system submissions and educator performance data. DESE's Center for District and School Accountability conducts district reviews that provide an assessment of district systems, including educator evaluation. Additionally, DESE contracted with an external organization to conduct a three-year implementation study of the MA evaluation regulations.
Integration with other Initiatives
Licensure and Professional Development
How are educator evaluation and professional development connected?
Educator evaluation and professional development (PD) both serve to improve educator practice and student outcomes. The evaluation framework highlights PD needs and should be leveraged to identify patterns in PD needs within a school and across the district. For more information about how to align PD and educator evaluation, read the Quick Reference Guide .
Do the Educator Plans required under 603 CMR 35.00 (Final Regulations on Evaluation of Educators) change the requirements for recertification under 603 CMR 44.00 (License Renewal)?
No. However, certain activities undertaken pursuant to an Educator Plan may meet the requirements for Professional Development Points (PDPs) under the educator's Individual Professional Development Plan.
Can Educator Plans also serve as Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDPs) for license renewal?
Yes, the regulations for license renewal (603 CMR 44.04 (2)) do allow for these plans to be the same. Given the license renewal cycle is a five year period and multiple Evaluation Cycles will occur during that time, there can be some challenges to combining these plans. DESE has released several example forms to help bring these two plans into alignment, including a version of an Educator Plan form and an Educator Plan Addendum.
Are districts required to align approval and endorsement of IPDPs with the Evaluation Cycle?
No. However, in many cases it will make sense to do so. Where appropriate and possible, the two processes may be combined to reduce the administrative burden on both educators and administrators.
How can the professional development activities in an Educator Plan count toward an Educator's IPDP?
Though governed by two different statues both plans must be consistent with the educational needs of the school and district, be approved by the educator's supervisor, strengthen the educator's knowledge and skills, and enhance the educator's ability to promote student learning. The Educator Plan specifies the kinds of professional development activities educators will pursue to improve their performance and promote student learning.
In many instances the professional development activities described in an Educator Plan will meet the requirements of 603 CMR 44.00 (License Renewal).
DESE recommends educators and evaluators:
Can I receive and use PDPs for attaining the professional practice goal(s) or student learning goal(s) of my Educator Plan under 603 CMR 35.00?
If the underlying activities required to meet those individual or team goals are consistent with 603 CMR 44.00 (License Renewal) and DESE's guidance on license renewal, you may receive PDPs for these activities.
Are learning walks, lesson study, participation in a professional learning community (PLC), or other "embedded" forms of professional development acceptable if they are included in my Educator Plan?
Yes, they are acceptable if they meet the requirements specified in regulations and are consistent with the goals of an educator's approved IPDP. The Department provides examples of a broad range of professional development activities in its Guidelines on Recertification . These include department-sponsored initiatives; initiatives sponsored by districts, Collaboratives, or registered PD providers; school-based activities; and educator designed PD.
MA Curriculum Frameworks
How can educator evaluation support implementation of the MA Curriculum Frameworks?
Educator evaluation should be leveraged to assess educators' skills for implementing the MA Curriculum Frameworks, which represent key content and skills students should learn. Read the Quick Reference Guide on Educator Evaluation & the MA Curriculum Frameworks to learn more about how these two initiatives can be aligned throughout the 5-Step Cycle of Evaluation.
Educator Preparation
How is DESE aligning educator preparation experiences with expectations for teachers and principals?
The Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) is the new performance assessment for teacher candidates that takes place during student teaching. K-12 educators, educator preparation faculty, and teacher candidates worked with DESE to create an assessment of teacher candidates aligned to the MA Educator Evaluation Framework. This alignment promotes a continuum of professional growth throughout an educator's career-from preparation to full teaching responsibilities-and establishes a common language for talking about educator practice.
The CAP aligns expectations and process with the Educator Evaluation Framework by measuring candidates' practice on key Standards and Indicators , and by employing a 5-Step Cycle. The CAP Pilot took place during the 2015-16 academic year, and was fully implemented in 2016-17, replacing the Pre-service Performance Assessment (PPA). For more information, contact EducatorPreparation@mass.gov .
Other District Priorities
Can districts customize the Educator Evaluation Framework to support district priorities?
Yes. The Educator Evaluation Framework is most effective when aligned to locally identified priorities. Many districts go through a process of analyzing DESE's Model Rubrics and identifying particular elements or indicators that most fully represent district priorities. DESE has identified the inclusion of students with diverse learning needs as a statewide priority and has published, as a set of optional tools and resources, the Educator Effectiveness Guidebook for Inclusive Practice. Other resources that highlight districts' work aligning the Educator Evaluation Framework with locally identified priorities include this document chronicling the efforts of eight Massachusetts districts to support the capacity of their evaluators called On Track with Evaluator Capacity and the Transforming Educator Evaluation in Massachusetts (TEEM) videos.
How can districts use data from the Massachusetts Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) in educator evaluation?
DESE released a three-page guidance document on how EWIS data can be used in the Educator Evaluation Cycle. For information about how to incorporate EWIS data in self-assessment, identifying a target population, and understanding classroom context, you can access the EWIS guidance . EWIS data is available in Edwin Analytics, which can be accessed via the Security Portal.
Model System
The regulations refer to a "Model System" developed by DESE. What does it contain?
The Model System is a comprehensive educator evaluation system designed by ESE, pursuant to the educator evaluation regulations, 603 CMR 35.00. The eight-part series was developed to support effective implementation of the regulations by districts and schools across the Commonwealth. For an overview of each section of DESE's Model System, visit the Model System webpage.
The parts include:
Part I: District-Level Planning and Implementation Guide
Part II: School-Level Planning and Implementation Guide
Part III: Guide to Rubrics and Model Rubrics for Superintendent, Administrator, and Teacher
Part IV: Model Collective Bargaining Contract Language
Part V: Implementation Guide for Principal Evaluation
Part VI: Implementation Guide for Superintendent Evaluation
Part VII: Using Evidence of Student Learning in the Evaluation Process
Part VIII: Using Staff and Student Feedback in the Evaluation Process
Do districts have to adopt DESE's Model System?
No. Districts can adopt or adapt DESE's Model System, or they may revise their own educator evaluation systems to comply with the regulations. All evaluation systems are subject to DESE's review to ensure the systems are consistent with the regulations (603 CMR 35.00). DESE's Model System is fully consistent with the regulations.
What opportunities were there for educators to contribute to the creation of tools for the Model System?
Working with the field to develop and implement the evaluation regulations has been and remains a priority for DESE. To develop the Model System, DESE worked with 11 early adopter districts, 10 districts implementing the framework in their Level 4 schools, and 4 Educational Collaboratives. DESE also engaged a wide range of stakeholders from state associations.
DESE continues to engage educators in the development of resources, including working with statewide associations for Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISPs) to develop role-specific resources, practicing principals to develop performance rating guidance, assessment and curriculum coordinators to develop guidance and resources for the identification and implementation of common assessments, and PreK-12 teachers and administrators to develop ways to collect and use student and staff feedback as part of evaluation. Our standing teacher and principal advisory cabinets are also critical vehicles for soliciting field input on new implementation tools and resources.
What guidance and tools has DESE developed to support educator evaluation implementation beyond the Model System?
A significant portion of the state's Race to the Top grant was allocated to support implementation of the evaluation framework at both the state and district level. This work included the development of the Model System, the identification of support providers, and the creation of a tools and resources designed to familiarize educators with the requirements of the regulations and support effective implementation. To access these resources, visit the educator evaluation webpage.
What guidance is available for supporting special educators in the Educator Evaluation Framework?
The Framework strives to highlight commonalities across educators. However, because of the complex job responsibilities of many special educators, the evaluation of these educators within the Framework can represent a unique set of challenges and opportunities. DESE has provided a clearinghouse page containing available guidance for the evaluation of special education personnel, including guidance on using the MCAS-Alternate Assessment as a Common Measure and the Educator Effectiveness Guidebook for Inclusive Practice.
Training
What is required training for educators (SISPs, teachers, administrators)?
Per An Act Providing for the Implementation of Education Evaluation Systems in School Districts (Chapter 131 of the Acts of 2012), "All school districts required to adopt and implement evaluation systems consistent with 603 CMR 35.00 … shall provide an evaluation training program developed by the department of elementary and secondary education for all evaluators and for all teachers, principals and administrators required to be evaluated."
DESE developed two educator evaluation training programs: a six-part series of training modules for evaluators and a four-part series of training workshops for teachers. The training workshops for teachers are designed for all educators required to be evaluated, who do not have evaluator responsibilities. This includes (but is not limited to) classroom teachers, Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (guidance counselors, nurses, or school psychologists, for example), and instructional specialists. For more detailed information, please see DESE's Quick Reference Guide: Educator Evaluation Training .
In 2015, DESE produced a series of videos that explain each step of the 5-Step Evaluation Cycle (the TEEM Video Series and the MA Educator Evaluation Framework videos). These videos are intended to support training on the evaluation framework for new educators and evaluators and may also be used by educator preparation programs with teacher and administrator candidates.
Per state regulations, "The superintendent is responsible for ensuring that all evaluators have training in the principles of supervision and evaluation" (603 CMR 35.10(4)).
What is the timeframe for required training and is there a required certificate?
Timelines for training should be determined by the district. The state does not require educators to receive a certificate of training.
Rubrics
Does DESE plan to release additional rubrics for special education teachers, school counselors, nurses, or other specialists?
DESE strove to highlight commonalities across educators by only developing four Model rubrics. DESE does not plan to create additional rubrics. However, in partnership with a range of professional organizations1, DESE has published a series of role-specific resources for school counselors, school business officials, school nurses, school psychologists, school librarians, occupational and physical therapists, and speech language pathologists. These resources do not replace the four Model rubrics but rather enhance them through a variety of approaches. For more information please see DESE's website on rubrics.
Can the rubric be used as an observation tool?
The rubrics are written to support educators and evaluators in making judgments about patterns of evidence, gathered across multiple points in time. Observation is a valuable way to gather evidence on performance against many, but not all, of the Standards and Indicators. The classroom teacher rubric, for example, includes many elements and Indicators that can only be assessed through means other than observation. The rubric is not designed to be a classroom observation tool and should not be used for that purpose.
Do educators need to be evaluated on all four Standards every year?
Yes. Educators need to be evaluated on all four Standards every year. DESE requires districts to report ratings on each of the four Standards as well as an overall Summative Performance Rating for every educator on an annual basis. For educators on plans one year or less in duration, they will receive ratings on each of the four Standards, as well as an overall Summative Performance Rating, at the conclusion of their Evaluation Cycle. For educators on two-year self-directed growth plans, a Formative Evaluation takes place at the end of year 1 (usually May or June), at which point they will receive ratings on each of the four Standards, as well as an overall performance rating. Formative Evaluation ratings default to the prior Summative Evaluation Rating unless there is significant evidence suggesting a change (603 CMR 35.06(5)(b)).
Goal Setting
How many goals are educators required to identify during each Evaluation Cycle?
Educators are required to propose a minimum of one student learning goal and one professional practice goal (603 CMR 35.06 (3)(g)). In addition to these two goals, superintendents are encouraged to propose three to five district improvement goals and principals are encouraged to propose 3-5 school improvement goals. For more information about the goal setting process, review the Goal Setting Sections in the School-Level Planning and Implementation Guide and the District-Level Planning and Implementation Guide.
The Transforming Educator Evaluation in Massachusetts (TEEM) Video Series includes local educators discussing the goal setting along with other components of the 5-Step Evaluation Cycle.
Can educators identify team goals?
Yes. Educators are encouraged to identify team goals (e.g. content area, grade level, administration, etc.) (603 CMR 35.06 (3)(b)). Additionally, educators and educator teams are encouraged to align goals to school and district priorities. DESE's SMART Goal development protocol and templates are available on the educator evaluation resources webpage. There are also resources to support goal development in the Guidebook for Inclusive Practice, as well as TEEM video content on Goal Setting.
How is attainment of goals assessed?
Much of the evidence educators and evaluators collect documents progress toward meeting goals. Specifically, the evidence collected should demonstrate completion of action steps and the attainment of key benchmarks. The evaluator should assess all of the evidence related to an educator's goals and determine the extent to which the educator is progressing toward each goal (Formative Assessment/Evaluation) and, ultimately, whether or not the educator meets each goal (Summative Evaluation).
Do the student learning and professional practice goals required in the educator evaluation regulations replace the goals on the Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP) for educators?
No. Please see the FAQ section on Integration with other Initiatives: Licensure and Professional Development.
Evidence
Are educators required to provide evidence for every Indicator on the rubric?
There needs to be enough evidence associated with each Standard such that a rating on a given Standard can be supported. The body of evidence should be aligned to the individual educator's goals, the focus of his/her evaluation, and school and district priorities. Read our Evidence Collection Toolkit for guidance and district strategies for clear and meaningful evidence collection. Additional tools and resources around effective and efficient evidence collection include a brief on Professional Development to Support Evidence Collection from Brockton Public Schools, Analyzing Artifacts tools in the Guidebook for Inclusive Practice, and TEEM video content on Evidence Collection .
How many pieces of evidence are educators required to collect?
There is no minimum or maximum requirement associated with evidence collection. Educators and evaluators should agree on the expectations for evidence related to the educator's goals, as well as his/her practice across the four Standards. Educators and evaluators should think strategically about evidence collection, keeping in mind that one piece of evidence often reflects practice associated with multiple Standards and Indicators. For more information on evidence collection, review Module 5: Gathering Evidence, Teacher Workshop 4: Gathering Evidence, and the Evidence Collection Toolkit .
Do educators or districts need to submit educator evaluation evidence to DESE?
No. DESE does not collect any evidence (such as artifacts of practice or notes from observations) from individual educators or districts. It is up to individual districts to determine how evidence of educator practice will be collected and retained.
Student and Staff Feedback
What types of feedback must be incorporated into educator evaluations?
Each district must collect student feedback for use in educator evaluations and staff feedback for use in administrator evaluations. Part VIII of the Model System includes guidance on collecting and analyzing student and staff feedback.
Who is required to use student and staff feedback?
According to the regulations (603 CMR 35.07 (1)), student feedback is a required piece of evidence for all educators and staff feedback is required for administrators.
Are districts required to incorporate feedback from students with disabilities in educator evaluation?
While the regulations do not specify student populations, feedback from a representative sample of an educator's student population should be incorporated. According to the Administration Protocol for the MA Model Survey, "Collecting feedback from students with special needs is a valuable part of the evaluation process. Districts should make every effort to include all students, or a representative sample of all students, in their feedback collection. When students with disabilities engage in providing feedback, any accommodations must be consistent with IEPs and 504 Plans."
How much does student and staff feedback "count" in an educator's evaluation?
Consistent with other guidance, there is no point value or numerical weight associated with feedback in an educator's evaluation. Districts have the flexibility to determine how student and staff feedback informs the evaluation process. Student and staff feedback may be gathered at multiple points in the 5-step Evaluation Cycle and considered formatively, summatively, or both. DESE recommends that student and staff feedback be used to inform an educator's self-assessment, shape his or her goal-setting process, and/or demonstrate changes in practice over time.
What tools and resources has DESE provided to help districts implement student and staff feedback?
ESE has developed model survey instruments for collecting student and staff feedback:
The DESE Model Feedback Surveys are optional for districts and are available in short and long forms. Survey items were developed, tested, and refined through a rigorous pilot project in the 2013-14 school year. The model surveys have the following characteristics:
More information about the DESE Model Feedback Surveys and related guidance is available on the student and staff feedback webpage.
Do districts have flexibility in the identification of feedback instruments for educators?
Yes. Districts may choose to implement district-wide feedback instruments, such as student or staff surveys, or they may create processes by which educators and evaluators can identify feedback instruments at the individual educator level (educator-specific instruments). These approaches are not mutually exclusive, and leaders may settle on a combination of district-wide and educator-specific instruments in order to best meet the needs of all educators. DESE has provided sample alternate approaches to collecting feedback in Part VIII of the Model System and the Guidebook for Inclusive Practice.
Districts are not required to adopt the model surveys. DESE recognizes that many districts may already have a history of collecting student and staff feedback (e.g., through the use of surveys). The model surveys are an available resource, aligned to the MA Standards and Indicators, but are not required.
Were educators involved in the development of the DESE Model Feedback Surveys?
Yes. DESE is indebted to the 10,000 students and 1,500 staff who piloted survey items during the 2013-14 school year, and to the more than 2,200 students, parents, teachers, and school and district administrators who provided input along the way. For more information about the survey development process, including stakeholder engagement.
Formative Assessment/Evaluation and Summative Performance Rating
Does DESE expect a certain percentage of educator ratings at each performance level?
No. There are no expectations that a certain percentage of educators within a school or district fall into each Summative Rating performance level (Exemplary, Proficient, Needs Improvement, and Unsatisfactory). Please note that Proficient is a rigorous yet attainable level of practice, indicating that the educator has met all expectations for a given Standard.
How do you evaluate an educator on Standards not covered by his/her goals?
Educator goals may or may not address practice across all four Standards. When evaluating an educator's practice related to a Standard not addressed by the educator's goals, the evaluator may use observational evidence, artifacts of practice specific to that Standard, and/or relevant measures of student learning, growth, and achievement. Rubrics provide an organizing framework for evaluators when analyzing evidence related to Standards. Educators and evaluators should think strategically about evidence collection, keeping in mind that one piece of evidence often reflects practice associated with multiple Standards and Indicators. For more information about evidence, please see Module 5: Gathering Evidence, Teacher Workshop 4: Gathering Evidence, and the Evidence Collection Toolkit .
What is the difference between a Formative Assessment and a Formative Evaluation?
For educators on plans that are one year or less in duration, the Formative Assessment takes place mid-way through the cycle (typically January or February for a one-year plan). Evaluators may give ratings on goals and/or practice related to the Standards; ratings are not required. For educators on two-year self-directed growth plans, a Formative Evaluation takes place at the end of year 1 (usually May or June). DESE requires districts to report ratings on each of the four Standards as well as an overall performance rating. Formative Evaluation ratings default to the prior Summative Evaluation Rating unless there is significant evidence suggesting a change (603 CMR 35.06(5)(b)).
How are student learning, growth, and achievement incorporated into the Summative Performance Rating?
Evidence of student learning, growth, and achievement plays a significant factor in the Summative Performance Rating. Multiple measures of student learning, growth, and achievement are a required source of evidence in two facets of the evaluation. First, evidence of impact on student learning based on multiple measures of student learning, growth, and achievement must be taken into account by the evaluator when determining a teacher's performance rating for Standard II, and an administrator's performance rating for Standard I. For administrators and teachers who are responsible for direct instruction, these measures must include student progress on common assessments and, where available, statewide student growth measures. Educators not responsible for direct instruction may consider using indirect measures of student learning (e.g. return to class rates in the case of school nurses). Second, evidence of student learning, growth, and achievement from classroom assessments, projects, portfolios, and district or state assessments may also factor into an evaluator's overall judgment of performance, and must inform an evaluator's consideration of progress toward attainment of the educator's student learning goal when determining the Summative Performance Rating.
Do educators still receive a Student Impact Rating?
No. Under the amended educator evaluation regulations (603 CMR 35.00), the student impact rating was eliminated. Educators now receive one overall evaluation rating, the Summative Performance Rating, that is informed by an educator's impact on student learning. Specifically, an educator's impact on student learning is now represented by the Student Learning Indicator, located within Standard II: Teaching All Students for teachers, and Standard I: Instructional Leadership for administrators. Statewide implementation of the new regulations went into effect in the 2017-18 school year.
What is a Student Learning Indicator?
The Student Learning Indicator represents the student-level outcomes of educators' practice. This measure is part of Standard II: Teaching All Students for teachers and Standard I: Instructional Leadership for administrators. To determine educators' impact on student learning, evaluators will review outcomes from multiple measures of student learning and compare them to pre-determined anticipated student learning gains. Because evaluators are not required to make a rating determination for any individual Indicator, this allows them to consider evidence of impact alongside evidence of practice when determining a rating for Standard II.
How was the educator evaluation framework developed?
In August 2010, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) convened the Massachusetts Task Force on the Evaluation of Teachers and Administrators to develop recommendations for revised evaluation regulations. Six months later, the Task Force issued a report recommending a "Breakthrough Framework." In June 2011, BESE adopted new educator evaluation regulations consistent with the Task Force recommendations.
1 Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA), Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO), Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO), Massachusetts School Psychologists Association (MSPA), Massachusetts School Librarians Association (MSLA), Massachusetts Association of Occupational Therapists/Physical Therapists Association (MAOT/APTA), Massachusetts Speech and Hearing Association (MSHA)
Last Updated: August 16, 2018
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