ACCESS Newsletter: Introducing the Newly Designed Delaware Teacher Classroom Observation Tool!

A.C.C.E.S.S. Newsletter Now Your Resource for Teacher Evaluation Redesign

The teacher evaluation rubric revision is moving forward. The 2019-2020 school year is focused on testing and finalizing the new rubric, and identifying updates to the observation process. This A.C.C.E.S.S. newsletter will serve as your quarterly, one-stop shop for all the information you need to prepare for implementation of the revised evaluation system. This month's issue includes an overview of the work done to date, shares with you an overview of the rubric and provides a resource for you to use when updating your teachers. In the winter issue, we will update you on the rubric testing process and what we’ve learned. In our spring issue, you’ll find out more about plans for the statewide pilot to take place during the 2020-2021 school year.

If you have any questions about the evaluation revision or wish to share feedback, contact us at [email protected] .

Digging Deeper: Get to Know the New Rubric

After almost two years of design work and systematic testing across the state of Delaware, we are excited to share the final Delaware Teacher Classroom Observation Tool. This rubric is the result of the work of a steering committee of educators from all three counties who serve in a variety of roles including classroom teachers, principals and district administrators. The steering committee collected content to create this rubric for a wide variety of sources, including the InTASC Standards , the Common Core instructional shifts , and The Opportunity Myth . The steering committee also examined several exemplar rubrics in use in other states to inform decisions both on content and rubric structure.

Click here to read an article about the structure of the new rubric

Click here to download the new rubric

While this new rubric is different from the DPAS-II rubric, there are some similarities in content to DPAS-II and to all rubrics that articulate expectations for teachers. The most critical concepts of teaching and learning that are in the DPAS-II rubric remain in the Delaware Teacher Classroom Observation Tool. The new rubric simply narrows the focus to those strategies that are most critical for student learning and directly observable during a lesson.

This rubric was tested in over 150 classrooms across the state in all grades pre-K to 12 and in all subject areas. The rubric was also tested in all classroom contexts (inclusion, self-contained special education, general education, honors, and EL). As a result of this testing, the steering committee is confident that this rubric is applicable to all classroom contexts. The DDOE and steering committee are developing resources and look-for guides for all classrooms, including for unique contexts like pre-K and moderate-to-severe special education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This rubric does NOT replace the DPAS-II rubric this school year. The rubric will be piloted in a few districts during the 2020-2021 school year and will be implemented statewide in 2021-2022. Observers and teachers should continue to use the DPAS-II rubric and process for teacher coaching and evaluation this year.

Currently, the steering committee and DDOE are designing a series of trainings for educators across the state to be able to understand and be prepared to use this new rubric. Trainings will begin this summer for educators in schools participating in the pilot during the 2020-2021 school year. What questions do you have about the rubric? Email us at [email protected] .

Share this with your teachers!

Educators across the state can participate in a pre-recorded webinar via PDMS to learn more about the new rubric's content and structure. Please encourage your teachers to engage in the webinar!

Click Here to Access PDMS for Course #28957

What's on the evaluation system revision agenda?

Below are a list of upcoming milestones in the evaluation system revision process. You can find up to date information on the process and work of the committees here .

March 11: Training Working Group meeting
May: A.C.C.E.S.S. newsletter to share final plans for the development and evaluation process as well as information about the pilot
May: Pilot districts announced
Summer: Pilot district administrator training begins
September: Pilot district teacher trainings begin; pilot begins!

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