Introducing the redesigned Delaware Teacher Evaluation System
The Delaware Department of Education is excited to introduce the redesigned Delaware Teacher Evaluation System! A steering committee of educators from across the state has been working since 2018 to develop the rubric and evaluation process, and has completed the comprehensive testing phase. While the design is complete, preparations for implementation have only just begun. The implementation timeline has been revised; the pilot of the evaluation system will begin in the fall of the 2021 school year, and continue through spring of 2022. This pilot will help prepare for state-wide implementation in the 2022-2023 school year. Please note: all Delaware schools will continue to use the DPAS-II Teacher Evaluation System during the 2020-2021 school year.
The 2020-2021 school year will serve as a transition year to enable educators and DDOE to engage with the new rubric and process and to prepare resources and materials to support implementation, and for educators in pilot districts to receive training. Specific timelines for the 2020-2021 transition year are being developed in line with DDOE guidance about school reopening in the fall. The ACCESS newsletter will continue to serve as your one-stop shop for information about the redesigned evaluation system. 
Are you interested in learning more about how to participate in the 2021-2022 pilot? Contact Melissa Oates for more information.
Get Caught Up: Overview of the redesigned rubric
Earlier this spring, DDOE released a pre-recorded webinar detailing the structure and content of the new rubric, as well as the process the Steering Committee took to create the rubric. You can view the webinar in PDMS by clicking the button to the right. You can view past ACCESS articles with more details about the rubric here . 
Digging Deeper: Getting to know the process
The Rubric Redesign Steering Committee worked diligently to create an evaluation process that is rooted in teacher development and support. The process was created based both on best practice research from educators across the country, and based on the Steering Committee’s efforts to test the redesigned Delaware rubric. 

The process begins with the creation of professional growth and student improvement goals in the fall. These goals drive the development and resources for the teacher over the course of the year. The process for setting student improvement goals remains unchanged.

Over the course of the year teachers receive multiple, brief classroom observations. Each observation is followed by a short debrief conversation to discuss the teaching observed and progress towards goals. Testing and research demonstrated that multiple short observations allow administrators to build a more consistent picture of a teacher’s practice; to provide feedback and opportunity for teachers to implement feedback to improve; and to collect adequate evidence to enable the administrator to provide a fair rating of teacher performance at the end of the school year. 

Teachers and administrators meet at the mid-year to check in on progress on goals and discuss what additional resources and support might be necessary. At the Spring Conference at the end of the school year, the teacher and administrator meet to review progress on goals and review rubric ratings. Rubric ratings are based on all of the evidence collected across multiple observations over the course of the year. 

The 2020-2021 transition year will provide the opportunity for educators across the state to engage with the redesigned rubric and process through newsletters, webinars, and school visits. The DOE and Steering Committee looks forward to sharing more details with you in the coming months.

Want to learn more about the redesigned evaluation process? View the webinar below!
Share this with your teachers!
Educators across the state can participate in a pre-recorded webinar via PDMS to learn more about the redesigned evaluation process. Please encourage your teachers to engage in this webinar to get the know the new system. Contact us with questions!
Educator Evaluation Guidance in 2019-2020
In follow-up to Governor Carney’s signing of the recent modification to the State of Emergency declaration, we are sharing this guidance document for educator evaluation. If you or any of your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the identified point of contact listed in the document.
Complete re-credentialing online by August 1
Attention evaluators: The online credentialing assessments for DPAS-II for Teachers and DPAS-II for Specialists will no longer be available beginning August 1, 2020 . If you need to be re-credentialed in advance of the 2020-2021 school year, you will need to register and complete the credentialing assessment before August 1. Any new administrators will be credentialed through the required training. Training for DPAS-II for Teachers will include 2 3-hour pre-recorded webinars and DPAS-II for Specialists will be 1 full-day session (virtual or in person). Dates for new administrator trainings are below.
What's on the agenda?
DPAS II Teacher/Specialist System Credentialing
All 3 courses are required to be a credentialed observer and evaluator
Systems Overview Webinar-Course #28089
Teacher System Framework Webinar-Course#29159
Specialist System Framework full day training (virtual/in-person TBD)-Course#29158
DPAS-II for Administrators Credentialing Course
This is a required, one-day training for all administrators new to evaluating assistant principals, principals, and/or district administrators. A credentialing assessment is required after participating in the one-day training. Registration - PDMS #27795
Training Dates:
July 23, 2020
August 13, 2020
October 13, 2020
November 20, 2020
DPAS-II for Administrators Overview Course
The DPAS-II for Administrators Overview Course is a series of short videos that explain all five components of the evaluation system. Additionally, a video is included that explains the purpose of a summative conference. Each video includes a modeled conversation between an administrator and evaluator. 
This course is an excellent introduction or review of the evaluation system. In addition to the videos, you will also find a copy of the DPAS-II for Administrators Guide and a copy of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). The evaluation system is aligned to PSEL, the adopted standards for leaders in Delaware. 
Registration - PDMS course #28996
Support Available for DPAS-II Admin System
With changes to timelines with the DPAS-II for Admin System, mid-cycle conferences should be underway for administrators. Onsite, face-to-face support from DASL is available for collecting evidence, planning for the conference, and overviews of the process. To schedule technical support, contact Michael Saylor at [email protected]