Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

Wisconsin

Educator Effectiveness System

POLICY GUIDE

Wisconsin Educator

Effectiveness System

Policy Guide

for Wisconsin Public Schools

Developed by

Educator Development and Support

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Carolyn Stanford-Taylor, State Superintendent

Madison, Wisconsin

Developed in conjunction with

Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER)

University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI

This publication is available from:

Educator Development and Support

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

125 South Webster Street

Madison, WI 53703

(608) 267-3750

https://dpi.wi.gov/ee

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race,

color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status

or parental status, sexual orientation, or disability.

Foreword i

Foreword

isconsin designed the Educator Effectiveness (EE) System for

one primary purpose: to strengthen educator practice to improve

student learning. While the Wisconsin EE System is a statewide

initiative, the law charges school boards and districts with

implementing the System and making local policies related to

implementation of the System. The Wisconsin Department of Public

Instruction (DPI) developed this policy guide to help districts: 1)

understand what is legally required for System implementation; 2) learn

about the DPI monitoring process for EE implementation; and 3) provide a

tool to support local policy considerations.

This guide is divided into three sections:

• Section I reviews the statutory, administrative, and implementation

requirements of the System.

• Section II describes the methods DPI will use to monitor local

compliance, evaluate the validity and quality of the System, and

provide supports for districts.

• Section III begins with DPI recommendations regarding the use of EE

data to inform human capital decisions, then transitions to a local

policy and improvement planning tool.

Outside of statewide requirements, districts have a great deal of flexibility

in determining appropriate EE System policy. DPI recommends that

districts consider a combination of factors for successful implementation,

including research-informed best practice (as described in the

DPI EE User

Guides), district culture, implementation strategies that match district

needs, and advice from the district’s legal counsel.

Figure 1: Successful Implementation Factors

Research-informed

Best Practice

District Culture District

Implementation

Strategies

Advice from Legal

Counsel

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January 2020

DPI drafted this guide with district administrators and school board

members in mind as the primary audience; however, other district and

school administrators, school and district personnel, and other local

stakeholders may find this guide helpful.

In this guide, “educator” refers to teachers or principals evaluated within

the EE System. In cases where a policy is relevant to a specific educator

role, the specific term will be used (i.e., “principal,” or “teacher”). “Evaluator”

refers to the administrator (superintendent, principal, or other staff

member) conducting educator evaluations.

Table of Contents iii

Table of Contents

Foreword……………………. ........................................................................................................................................ i

Section I: WI Educator Effectiveness System Requirements .................................................................... 1

Wisconsin Education Standards and Personnel Evaluation ................................................................

................................

................................................................................................

................................................................

................................

................................................................................................................................

........ 1

The Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System and Wis. Stat. § 115.415 .............. 2

Educators Employed by a District .................... 2

Defining Educator Roles and EE Requirements .......................... 2

Equivalent Models within the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System ............ 4

Confidentiality ............................. 5

Mentors

................................................................................................

................................................................

................................................................................................................................

................................................................

..... 5

Peer Reviewers ....................... 6

Instructional Coaches ........... 6

Funding for Implementing Educator Effectiveness ........................ 6

Requirements for Monitoring of Statewide Compliance

................................................................

.............. 6

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Implementation Requirements:

................................

Section II: System Evaluation and Monitoring ............................................................................................. 11

Theory of Action and Philosophy for Monitoring of District Implementation ................................... 11

Assurance of Compliance through the Educator Effectiveness Grant ................................................. 12

Annual Statewide Evaluation of the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System .............................. 12

Use of the External Evaluation and WEDSR Survey for Compliance Monitoring ........................ 13

Educator Effectiveness Exchange – Data Retreat ....................................................................................... 15

Attending the EE Exchange – Data Retreat ............................................................................................... 16

Complaint Processes .............................................................................................................................................. 17

Local Process ........................................................................................................................................................ 17

DPI Complaint Process ..................................................................................................................................... 17

Compliance Audits .................................................................................................................................................. 19

Section III: Local Decision Points .................................................................................................................... 21

DPI Recommendations Regarding Educator Effectiveness System Data Use ................................... 21

Using

Educator Effectiveness Data for High Stakes Decisions ............................................................... 22

Non-Renewal ........................................................................................................................................................ 22

Informing Pay ....................................................................................................................................................... 22

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January 2020

Appendix: Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool ........................................................ 25

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool ............................................................................ 27

INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................................................................................ 29

INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM ..................................................................... 29

LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................... 32

TRAINING .................................................................................................................................................................. 37

TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM ....................................................................................... 37

LOCAL TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS ..................................................................................................... 39

CONDUCTING THE EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS CYCLE ................................................................... 43

CONDUCTING THE EE CYCLE CONTINUUM ........................................................................................ 43

LOCAL EE CYCLE CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................................................... 47

MONITORING .......................................................................................................................................................... 53

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM ............................................................................... 53

LOCAL MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................. 55

EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS INTEGRATION ............................................................................................ 59

INTEGRATION CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM .............................................................................. 59

LOCAL EE INTEGRATION CONSIDERATIONS ...................................................................................... 62

References……….. .................................................................................................................................................. 67

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Requirements

Section I:

WI Educator Effectiveness

System Requirements

Wisconsin legal requirements relating to educator evaluation, including

long-standing constitutional requirements and more recent state statutes

and regulatory requirements promulgated by the Wisconsin Department of

Public Instruction (DPI), are listed below.

Wisconsin Education Standards and Personnel

Evaluation

Article X of the Wisconsin Constitution establishes the expectation that

school resources are “nearly uniform” so that educational opportunities for

Wisconsin children do not depend on their location of residence. To meet

this requirement, the Legislature developed the 20 Wisconsin Education

Standards found in

Wisconsin Administrative Code sec. PI 8.01, which

establish minimum expectations for each school district. Standard 17

requires each district’s school board create an evaluation process for all

licensed school personnel to occur in their “first year of employment and, at

least, every third year thereafter.” The standard states that:

1. Each school district board shall establish specific criteria and a

systematic procedure to measure the performance of licensed

school personnel. The written evaluation shall be based on a board

adopted position description, including job related activities, and

shall include observation of the individual’s performance as part of

the evaluation data. Evaluation of licensed school personnel shall

occur during the first year of employment and at least every third

year thereafter.

2. The school district board shall ensure that evaluations, including

those for purposes of discipline, job retention, or promotion, shall

be performed by persons who have the training, knowledge and

skills necessary to evaluate professional school personnel. The

school district board shall be responsible for the evaluation of the

school district administrator under this subdivision.

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January 2020

The Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System and

Wis. Stat. § 115.415

In 2011, the Wisconsin Legislature passed, and the governor signed into

law, Act 166, which created Wis. Stat. § 115.415

. This new law added new

requirements regarding the evaluation of school personnel to supplement

PI 8.01. Specifically, Wis. Stat. § 115.415 requires:

1. DPI to develop a statewide process to evaluate teachers and

principals, and

2. All Wisconsin school districts and charter schools (established

under section 118.40[2r] or [2x]

) to use the new process (Educator

Effectiveness)—beginning in 2014-15—to evaluate teachers and

principals as they fulfill their statutory requirements to evaluate

personnel, as noted in

PI 8.01.

Educators Employed by a District

Department of Corrections and Department of Health Services educators

are not employed and evaluated by a Wisconsin district or 2R charter and,

therefore, are not mandated to implement the new system to evaluate

teachers and principals. However, if these organizations would like to use

the state’s Educator Effectiveness (EE) System to evaluate their educators,

DPI will fund this process. Cooperative Education Support Agency (CESA)

and community 4K teachers are not employed by or evaluated by districts

or 2R charters. Instead, school districts contract with other agencies to

provide these staff. These employees are not required to be evaluated

using the EE System. However, if a district wants their contracted staff to

receive an evaluation using the EE System, the district can include such

requirements in their contract—DPI will fund this process. Although DPI

schools are not employed by or operated by a “district,” as employees of

DPI, their staff must implement the EE System.

Defining Educator Roles and EE Requirements

1. Principals: DPI defines principals as any person serving in the role of

“principal” or “assistant/associate principal” in a Wisconsin public

school.

2. Teachers: DPI defines teachers by the following duties:

• Plan for and deliver instruction,

• Assess student learning, and

• Manage an instructional environment.

DPI created a decision-making flowchart

(Figure 2) to help districts

properly determine which staff must be evaluated using the EE

System.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Requirements 3

Figure 2: Decision-Making Flowchart for Mandated Educators

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3. Administrators: Administrators serving as both a principal and a

superintendent are not evaluated as principals within the Educator

Effectiveness (EE) System. Instead, these educators will continue to

be evaluated using as superintendents by their school boards using

locally created processes, as required under PI 8.

4. Other Licensed School Staff: Wis. Stat. § 115.415 does not change the

requirements included in PI 8 School District Standard 17

(personnel evaluation). Wis. Stat. § 115.415 only changes the

process used to evaluate teachers and principals. Districts must still

comply with PI 8 and continue to evaluate all other licensed

personnel in their first year of employment and, minimally, every

third year thereafter. Districts must ensure evaluators of all

licensed personnel are appropriately trained and qualified to

evaluate staff. To support districts in meeting the continued

requirement to evaluate all licensed staff in a manner that better

aligns to the required evaluation processes of principals and

teachers, DPI worked collaboratively with the relevant professional

organizations to develop several

evaluation processes for licensed

personnel in other roles. Districts may adopt these processes

voluntarily or continue to use locally created processes.

5. Evaluators: All evaluators must hold an active administrative license.

According to PI 34.064, “A license under ss. PI 34.066 to 34.071 is

required to supervise and evaluate professional staff in grades

prekindergarten through 12.”

Equivalent Models within the Wisconsin Educator

Effectiveness System

Wis. Stat. § 115.415 also requires that DPI:

“[D]evelop an… equivalency process aligned with the department's

evaluation system for the evaluation of teachers and principals of

public schools, including teachers and principals of a charter school

established under sec. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), as provided in this section.”

DPI promulgated Wis. Admin. Code sec. PI 47

in November 2013, which

establishes a process by which school districts and charter schools

established under sec.

118.40[2r] or [2x], Stats., (hereafter referred to

jointly as “school districts” or “districts”) may apply to use an alternative

model for evaluating teachers and principals in the Wisconsin EE System.

Districts must complete an application that demonstrates their proposed

model’s equivalency with the EE System’s state model. Only the methods

and measures for evaluating practice (i.e., observation rubrics) are subject

to equivalency. Applicants must meet all other minimum requirements of

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Requirements

the Wisconsin EE System (although applicants may always do more than is

required.)

PI 47.05

establishes criteria by which DPI may require corrective action of

districts using an approved equivalent model within the System if either of

the following occur:

1. “[C]redible evidence indicating that a participant is no longer in

compliance with the requirements of this chapter”; or

2. “The participant’s model produces unreliable or inconsistent

results."

If a district fails to implement corrective action based on DPI’s guidance,

the department may rescind a district’s approval to use an alternative

model and require the district to adopt the state’s model or another

approved equivalent model.

Confidentiality

Evaluations of school district staff are the confidential records of the school

district or similar body that conducted the evaluation. Evaluation records

are excluded from disclosure under the state open records law:

“120.12 (2m)

EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS. (b) Ensure that the results of

evaluations conducted under this subsection are not subject to

public inspection, copying, or disclosure under [

Wis. Stat. § 19.35].”

Districts are encouraged to use mentors, peer reviewers, and instructional

coaches in supporting roles within the EE System, but confidentiality must

be considered and maintained, where appropriate.

Mentors

Wis. Administrative Code sec. PI 34.040 (5)(b)

defines a mentor as an

educator “who successfully completed a mentor training program approved

by the department.” Mentors “have input into the confidential formative

assessment of the initial educator” but may not participate as part of the

formal employment evaluation process.

Mentors support the educator in an ongoing, formative nature, outside of

EE conferences. Appropriate mentor support of EE may include (but are not

limited to) confidential, formative feedback regarding the following: EEP

goal development, evidence review, progress towards EEP goals, and

instructional practices.

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January 2020

Peer Reviewers

Peer Reviewers (i.e., colleagues) review and provide feedback to educators

across the EE Cycle. This support should include feedback and coaching

conversations regarding progress towards EEP goals and related

instructional practices. DPI recommends (but cannot require) that districts

consider professional conversations between Peer Reviewers and

educators as confidential and formative in nature.

Instructional Coaches

Districts define the instructional coach role locally, and coaches serve in a

variety of roles depending on local context. DPI recognizes instructional

coaches as a valuable support within the EE System. However, DPI

recommends districts consider professional conversations between

instructional coaches and educators as confidential and formative in

nature.

Funding for Implementing Educator Effectiveness

In addition to Wis. Stat. § 115.415, the Wisconsin Legislature passed an

appropriation to fund statewide implementation of the EE System at 80

dollars per educator through a grant to school districts—the Educator

Effectiveness Grant (Form PI-1621). The legislature derived educator

counts from the WISEstaff report (formerly the PI-1202 Annual Staffing

Report), including all principals, teachers and other school district positions

in each school district and public charter school. DPI contacts all eligible

grant recipients in the fall of each fiscal year to apply for EE Grant funds.

To make resources available statewide, Wis. Stat. § 115.415 authorized DPI

to charge a fee to school districts, reimbursed by the EE Grant. DPI charges

state model districts the 80 dollars per educator grant allocation to fund

statewide services such as the EE System’s online evaluator certification

and calibration platform, online data management platform and support,

CESA implementation support, and the

Leading for Learning professional

development series.

Requirements for Monitoring of Statewide Compliance

Per Wis. Stat. § 115.415, the state tasked DPI with designing an Educator

Effectiveness System and districts with implementing the new System

beginning in 2014-15. DPI worked with stakeholders and partners to

develop the System and make decisions to ensure consistency of

implementation statewide. However, DPI does not have the capacity, nor

the authority, to monitor compliance with every design decision or

recommendation of best practice. Although DPI has defined best practices

(articulated in the process guides), DPI also had to define requirements for

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Requirements

implementation of EE for the purposes of statewide monitoring for

compliance with Wis. Stat. § 115.415 (noted below).

The requirements noted below reflect minimum expectations for compliance

with Wis. Stat. § 115.415. DPI cautions districts that implementing the

minimum requirements for the primary purpose of compliance with Wis.

Stat. § 115.415 will not likely result in growth for either professional practice

or student outcomes. The requirements are the same regardless of practice

model within the EE System. Additionally, districts using equivalent models

should consult the model provider for any additional requirements which

are model-specific, such as the use of an online tool. For a more

comprehensive understanding of growth-oriented implementation

practices within the DPI model, see the EE System User Guides for

Teachers and Principals.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Implementation Requirements:

1. Districts provide orientation and training for educators and evaluators.

Districts must provide educators and evaluators with a

comprehensive understanding of the EE System, as well as the

district’s adopted EE model.

Districts or schools must provide an annual orientation to the

system for educators new to the district or completing a Summary

Year. As described in the EE System User Guides, orientation

provides educators and evaluators a space to discuss a high-level

overview of the state system and the district’s selected model,

including “the evaluation criteria, the evaluation process, or the

ongoing continuous improvement cycles informed by evidence of

educator practice collected during observations, the use of

evaluation results, and any remaining questions or concerns.

Educators and evaluators should also engage in EE System training

that deepens their understanding of the System and improves staff

capacity on an ongoing basis. EE System training should generate

consistency in the use of the model. Districts and schools may draw

upon DPI guidance and training resources, along with other online

and Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA)-provided

professional development opportunities, when creating local

training.

For equivalent models, see the appropriate model process guides.

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2. Evaluators must certify and districts must provide ongoing monitoring of

inter-rater agreement (calibration).

Districts must create and implement a process (beyond initial

orientation and system training) to ensure, and continuously

improve, inter-rater agreement of all evaluators.

In the DPI model, evaluators of teachers must initially certify using a

rigorous computer exam after completing comprehensive

certification training using master-scored videos of classroom

practice. Evaluators must calibrate at least once every semester

(except semesters in which the evaluator initially certifies or

recertifies). Evaluators must use the same online system to recertify

every four years.

3. Educators complete a self-review at the start of their Summary Year, at

least.

Educators must complete a self-review based on the performance

rubrics used by the district’s Educator Effectiveness model at least

during their Summary Year. While the self-review is only required

during the Summary Year, districts are encouraged to ensure

educators complete a self-review annually as part of their goal-

setting process.

4. Educators complete at least one Student/School Learning Objective

(SLO) and one Professional Practice Goal (PPG) annually, as part of an

annual Educator Effectiveness Plan (EEP) to improve performance.

Educators develop an EEP annually and submit all EEPs from their

current evaluation cycle to their evaluator in their Summary Year.

The EEP includes:

• one Student/School Learning Objective, and

• one Professional Practice Goal (or equivalent).

Educators base EEP goals on data and write them as specific,

measurable, attainable, results-based, and time-bound (SMART)

goals. EEP goals help educators engage in a continuous process of

analysis of student/school data and self-assessment of practice.

National Board Certification: Educators completing the National

Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification

process cannot substitute that process for the EE process.

Educators must also complete the EE processes while completing

the NBPTS process. However, NBPTS applicants can (and should)

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Requirements

utilize the same goals and evidence for both processes to reduce

burden and duplication.

Retiring Educators: Educators planning to retire at the end of a year

must still complete their EEP processes. Educators will remain in

front of students for the remainder of the year and, as such, must

focus on continuous improvement for the duration of that year.

5. Evaluators conduct required EEP conferences, including: Planning, Mid-

Year, and End-of-Cycle conferences.

Educators and their evaluators or peers meet to review EEP data,

adjust instructional/leadership strategies as appropriate, and

reflect on progress through required system conferences:

• Planning Session: Educators and evaluators (in Summary

Years, minimally) or peers (in Supporting Years, minimally)

meet to review proposed EEP goals in preparation for

implementation.

• Mid-Year Review: Educators meet with evaluators or peers to

review EEP progress and adjust strategies and goals as

appropriate.

• End-of-Cycle Conference: Educators meet with evaluators or

peers to assess the degree to which EEP goals were met and

plan for the next EE Cycle.

6. Evaluators conduct required observations of professional practice in the

Summary Year and Supporting Years of the EE Cycle.

Evaluators must conduct observations in a manner that provides

sufficient evidence to conduct professional conversations and to

assess the educator in all observable domains and related

components of the professional practice framework. See the

User

Guides for teacher and principal evaluation for details on minimum

requirements of observations in the DPI model. Evaluators must

provide ongoing feedback and facilitate professional conversations

as a result of observations.

Section III and the appendix of this guide assists districts with the

implementation of these requirements and other local

considerations.

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January 2020

System Evaluation and Monitoring

Section II:

System Evaluation and

Monitoring

While districts only need to meet requirements presented in Section I of

this guide to comply with the law, the Department of Public Instruction

(DPI) created a monitoring process that will support continuous

improvement with regards to both the implementation of the Wisconsin

Educator Effectiveness (EE) System, as well educator practice.

Theory of Action and Philosophy for Monitoring of

District Implementation

DPI designed the EE System to embrace a theory of learning that

promotes continuous growth and improvement using best practices for

teaching, leadership, and learning. Traditional evaluation systems typically

identify an educator’s strengths and areas for continued improvement.

Wisconsin recognized that understanding areas of strength and areas for

improvement does not automatically inform how to improve. This

realization informed the design of the WI EE System, its training, and

supports. The DPI Educator Development and Support team is committed

to creating policies and processes that inform continuous improvement.

With EE, DPI implemented a system designed to inform the improvement

of all educators. Similarly, when designing a model for System monitoring,

DPI developed a process that would improve the quality of

implementation in all schools and districts, while identifying those schools

and districts failing to comply with the minimal legal requirements.

DPI monitors the System by: 1) asking districts to affirmatively assure DPI

they are implementing (the EE Grant); 2) ensuring cooperation with the

external evaluation of the System; and 3) by responding to any complaints

regarding the implementation of the System. DPI has a continuum of

options moving from assistance to official audits and public proceedings.

However, the primary purpose of EE System monitoring is to support

districts in understanding and meeting the necessary requirements for

compliance while providing technical assistance to districts, so they can

move beyond the compulsory and towards a learning-centered approach.

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EE System monitoring assumes the best intentions of all schools and

districts, and DPI will work with districts failing to meet the requirements.

However, if a school or district ignores requirements described in Section

I, despite repeated offers of support, DPI will assume the district is

willfully choosing not to implement the System as required. At this point,

monitoring will move from technical assistance and support to corrective

action.

Assurance of Compliance through the Educator

Effectiveness Grant

Annually, districts submit an EE Grant application to receive funding to

implement the EE System locally. As part of the application process,

districts must agree to a series of assurances as part of the grant

agreement. Specifically, the EE Grant requires applicants to agree that:

“The school district will cooperate in carrying out any evaluation of

this program conducted by or for the state educational agency, the

secretary, or other federal officials.”

DPI considers this assurance of cooperation as the first check of

compliance with the EE System.

Annual Statewide Evaluation of the Wisconsin Educator

Effectiveness System

DPI contracted with an external evaluator, Socially Responsible

Evaluation in Education (SREed) of UW–Milwaukee, to conduct an annual

evaluation of the statewide System. The evaluation informs changes to the

System and development of local and statewide supports based on

common concerns or barriers to implementation. Most recently, the

evaluation has begun to measure impact of the System, relative to

implementation quality.

The Wisconsin Educator Development, Support, and Retention (WEDSR)

Survey, developed by SREed, measures teacher and principal perceptions

of the EE System, its impacts on their practice, and other school factors

which impact the quality of local EE System implementation. Individual

responses remain confidential, and reports delivered to DPI provide data

at the aggregate, statewide level. State reports do not identify individuals,

schools, or districts. The external evaluator maintains confidentiality to

encourage full and honest participation in the survey.

To inform local continuous improvement efforts, the external evaluator

will develop confidential reports for schools or districts meeting a

System Evaluation and Monitoring

minimum response rate. Reports remain confidential and are delivered by

the evaluator directly to the school or district administrator(s). These

reports provide school and district leaders with the following information:

• measures of local EE System implementation based on staff

perceptions as compared to the state average,

• staff perceptions of whether local EE implementation practices help

develop and support educators as compared to the state average,

• measures of local conditions that promote or inhibit local efforts to

utilize EE processes to develop and support educators as compared

to the state average, and

• relationships between local EE practices and teacher job

satisfaction as compared to the state average.

These reports serve as the primary resource for improvement planning

during EE Exchange – Data Retreats, an optional technical assistance

opportunity for continuous improvement and action planning (detailed

further below).

While these survey data inform DPI’s ongoing improvements to the

statewide System and local improvement efforts, they also provide DPI

basic information regarding statewide compliance with Wis. Stat. §

115.415. As described above, districts agree to cooperate with the

external evaluation as an assurance of their EE Grant application. DPI

defines cooperation as a good faith effort to provide district educators

access to participate in the WEDSR Survey. For a majority of districts

statewide, this can be accomplished by simply whitelisting the external

evaluator’s email address so that educators receive the survey from the

evaluator. For some districts (especially those not using Frontline), the

evaluator may request additional information including educators’ district

email addresses and ratings data. (Note: These data are collected directly

from a district administrator to the evaluator. These data are kept confidential

and never shown to DPI).

While a district must comply and provide access, the survey remains

voluntary at the individual educator level—any individual educator can

refuse to participate in the survey.

Use of the External Evaluation and WEDSR Survey for Compliance Monitoring

DPI considers the primary purpose of the external evaluation to inform

ongoing improvements; however, the data also provide evidence of

compliance without being invasive. As previously noted, DPI considers

non-compliance to include failure to cooperate with the administration of

14 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

the external evaluation. Additionally, survey data provides actual evidence

of implementation and whether a district has failed to meet minimal

requirements. Specifically, survey questions address, but are not limited

to, whether district administrators: 1) provide orientation and training for

educators and evaluators; 2) require certification and ongoing calibration

of evaluators; 3) require annual completion of EEPs; 4) conduct required

evaluation conferences focused on growth; and 5) conduct required

observations of professional practice followed by professional

conversations focused on growth. DPI considers the following as evidence

of non-compliance:

• A significant proportion of educators—both teachers and

principals—indicate they did not receive orientation or training

regarding their evaluations;

• A significant proportion of educators—both teachers and

principals—indicate observation ratings and feedback are

inaccurate and/or would be different if provided by another

evaluator;

• A significant proportion of educators—both teachers and

principals—indicate they have not completed an SLO or PPG during

the current year;

• A significant proportion of Summary Year educators—both teachers

and principals—indicate they have not participated in required

Summary Year conferences with their evaluators; or

• A significant proportion of Summary Year educators—both teachers

and principals—indicate evaluators have not observed their practice

the minimal number of times and/or have not provided timely

feedback.

Should the evaluator determine credible evidence exists regarding any of

the previously noted conditions, the evaluator will provide said evidence

to DPI. The evaluator does not issue findings of compliance and does not

recommend any action to DPI. (Note: Evidence of failure to comply is the

ONLY instance in which DPI will see data at the school or district level. Should

this occur, the evaluator will ONLY provide specific data associated with the

area of potential non-compliance. In all other instances, this information

remains confidential.)

Example 1. Identification. District administrators refuse to provide the

external evaluator access to district educators’ contact information.

System Evaluation and Monitoring

Example 1. Corrective Action. DPI requires participation and cooperation

with the evaluation as an assurance for receiving Educator Effectiveness

Grant funds. Districts which fail to comply with the evaluation may

jeopardize some or all of their EE Grant funds. After failure to participate

in the evaluation a first time, DPI may send a letter to the district

explaining the potential consequences should the district refuse to

participate again while offering support to help the district participate.

If the district participates in the survey the following year, DPI may

continue to offer supports to improve local implementation. If the district

fails to participate in the external evaluation a second time, DPI would

consider this a willful lack of compliance and additional measures would

follow as laid out in communication with the district.

Example 2. Identification. The external evaluator receives reliable data

from a district that indicates a potential failure to comply with

requirements described in Section I (e.g., all respondents within a given

school or district indicate evaluators did not observe their practice at any

time). The evaluator provides the evidence to DPI. The evaluator does not

issue findings of compliance and does not recommend any action to DPI.

Example 2. Corrective Action. In the event the evaluator informs DPI that

evaluation evidence suggests a district is in noncompliance with the EE

System, DPI will determine whether to further explore the district’s

practices based on the severity and certainty of the evaluation evidence. If

DPI examines the evidence and determines there is reason to believe the

district may not be complying with EE System requirements, DPI will first

inform district and school administrators of the evidence and of System

requirements and offer support to become compliant. DPI would continue

to monitor identified areas of non-compliance via the district’s EE Survey

results. (As previously noted, DPI would not see any other portion of the

district’s survey data.) If the external evaluation shows evidence of

improved implementation and compliance in the identified area, DPI will

cease monitoring of the district’s survey results. If the external evaluation

continues to show evidence of a failure to comply with EE System

requirements by the district, then DPI may implement additional

measures, such as issuing a letter laying out potential consequences and

next steps.

Educator Effectiveness Exchange – Data Retreat

While the survey provides local schools and districts reports that may be

used to identify areas of EE implementation strength and growth, the EE

Exchange – Data Retreat serves as one process by which schools and

districts can develop a deeper understanding of why their EE processes are

16 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

or are not being implemented as intended and how their EE processes are

impacting educator development, support, and retention efforts. The EE

Exchange – Data Retreat is an optional technical assistance support

developed in collaboration with partner organizations (i.e., CESAs and

professional organizations such as the Wisconsin Association of School

District Administrators and the Association of Wisconsin School

Administrators) to provide an opportunity for districts to receive direct

support on EE implementation by trained facilitators. DPI has designed the

EE Exchange – Data Retreat to mirror the EE process itself; districts self-

assess EE implementation and other school factors, review relevant data

on those factors from their individualized school and/or district (via the

reports provided by the external evaluator), identify goals for

improvement, and develop strategies to meet those goals. A critical part of

the EE Exchange – Data Retreat process involves the development of an

EE implementation action plan. The plan is kept solely by the district or

school team that creates it.

Attending the EE Exchange – Data Retreat

Local CESAs will hold time and space for districts to gather for the EE

Exchange – Data Retreat in person or virtually. Additionally, school and

district teams can attend an EE Exchange – Data Retreat at the annual

Leading for Learning Summit. At the event, teams:

• Analyze local EE implementation data provided by the external

evaluator to determine areas of strength and areas in need of focus

and improvement,

• Self-assess the degree to which the district has implemented the EE

System as described in the WI EE System Policy Guide and Process

Guides,

• Collaborate with other districts in attendance regarding

implementation successes and lessons learned (if attending in-

person as opposed to virtually), and

• Develop an EE implementation action plan.

At the event, participants will have opportunities to develop relationships

with partner organization staff (i.e., CESA, WASDA, AWSA), explain their

action plans and any needs for training or support, and discuss

opportunities to receive individualized, contextualized supports onsite.

Districts interested in participating can find more information here:

Exchange – Data Retreat. To participate, districts and schools must meet

minimum response rates necessary to maintain confidentiality of

individual participants to receive WEDSR survey reports at the district

and school level.

System Evaluation and Monitoring

The EE Exchange – Data Retreat is optional for districts; however, DPI

may request or require district participation as part of corrective action in

the event DPI determines the district is not meeting EE implementation

requirements.

Complaint Processes

Engagement in the external evaluation and EE Exchange processes gives

districts the opportunity to review local data and adjust implementation

with support from DPI. Participation in these events will help identify and

prevent local EE System implementation issues before they become

disputes with potential administrative and legal consequences. In the

event an educator experiences issues related to local implementation

which harms them, a local complaints process should be established and

made available. DPI maintains a complaint process which educators should

utilize as a last resort after exhausting local remedies.

Local Process

District leaders should discuss and (as much as possible) agree on, in

advance, responses to any concerns and questions staff and local

communities may have related to the EE System. Districts need to provide

firm guidance to all constituent groups to minimize possible

misunderstandings and disagreements. Local decisions related to EE

should be transparent and communicated both during a comprehensive

orientation and included within district handbooks. (Section III helps

identify and work through potential decision items.)

If disagreements do arise, districts (and all parties to the dispute) should

try to resolve the dispute at the level closest to its origin. All parties should

attempt to reach an informal solution using other means before resorting

to official processes. For example, a third party (another evaluator,

administrator, or teacher leader) could be sought to help resolve the

disagreement.

In the event an informal resolution is not possible, districts should have a

formal appeals process in place locally to respond to unresolved disputes.

Districts could use an existing appeals process for handling employment-

related issues for EE disputes or create a separate appeals process for just

the EE System.

DPI Complaint Process

If a local complaint centers around a school’s or district’s failure to meet

minimum implementation requirements (described in detail in Section I)

and local processes have not resolved the issue, further complaints to the

18 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

state superintendent would be addressed according to PI 1, Complaint

Resolutions and Appeals. In this process, the complainant must file a

written complaint to the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public

Instruction. The state superintendent may use one or more of several

procedures deemed appropriate to investigate and resolve the complaint.

(Note: DPI does not have the authority to resolve issues related to

implementation quality beyond minimum requirements nor individual

evaluation findings or scores.)

PI 1 states, in part:

“PI 1.04 Procedures. Upon receipt of a written complaint or

appeal filed under s. PI 1.03

, the state superintendent shall

acknowledge receipt of the complaint or appeal in writing and shall

use any or all of the following procedures that the state

superintendent determines to be appropriate:

(1) Provide technical assistance and information and attempt to

resolve the matter informally.

(2) Refer the complainant to another state agency for action or

resolution.

(3) Conduct an investigation under s. PI 1.05

(4) Conduct a hearing under s. PI 1.07.

(5) Issue a decision based on a review of the record of a hearing held

before the local education agency.

(6) Issue protective orders or grant temporary relief as deemed

necessary by the state superintendent to preserve the rights of any

party prior to the issuance of a final decision or order.

(7) Arrange for mediation under s. PI 1.06

(8) Direct the complainant to exhaust any administrative remedies

available before the local education agency.

(9) Conduct a desk review.”

DPI will determine appropriate action based on the relevant facts of each

case, and more than one of the options described above may be used.

Whenever possible, DPI will revert to a position of technical assistance

and support. In situations requiring further action, DPI may require

additional monitoring processes or corrective action. In the event a

hearing is held for a contested case, DPI will issue a decision in writing

“stating separate findings of fact and conclusions of law” (s. PI 1.08

). The

System Evaluation and Monitoring

final decision will also provide details of any right of further review the

parties may have, including any potential judicial review of the decision.

Compliance Audits

In the event that a district fails to meet the assurances of the EE Grant or

cooperate with the external evaluation, evidence from the external

evaluation suggests a district is noncompliant, or a credible complaint

alleges a district is failing to comply with the System, DPI may conduct a

compliance audit as described under

Wisconsin Administrative Code PI

8.02. As required by PI 8.02,

“(2) The department shall notify the school district board at least 90

days prior to beginning the on-site audit.

(3) The department shall provide a report to the school district

within 60 days of the end of the on-site visit. If the report indicates

that the district is not in compliance with s. 121.02 (1), Stats., or s.

8.01 (2), the school district board or the electors of the school

district as provided under s. 121.02 (3), Stats., may petition the state

superintendent for a public hearing within 45 days of receipt of the

audit report. The state superintendent shall hold the public hearing

prior to any finding of noncompliance.”

After the noncompliance hearing and the deadline for submission of

written statements, a final written decision regarding the district’s

compliance must be issued by the state superintendent within 90 days. If

the school district is found not in compliance, the DPI may:

1. develop a plan for compliance with the school district with a time

period no longer than 90 days,

2. grant one (1) extension to the time period for the compliance plan

no longer than one (1) year after receiving a written request from

the school board before the expiration of the original time period,

and

3. withhold up to 25 percent of state aid if the school district fails to

meet compliance within the time period of the plan.

Ultimately, DPI will conduct a compliance audit as an action of last resort

when all others have been exhausted. Whenever possible, DPI will seek to

remediate compliance issues with technical assistance first.

20 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

ocal Decision Points

Section III:

Local Decision Points

DPI Recommendations Regarding Educator

Effectiveness System Data Use

Wisconsin’s vision for education is that all students graduate, college and

career ready

. Effective teaching represents the single greatest school-

based influence on students’ achievement (RAND Education 2012). School

leadership impacts not only student learning, but the professional growth

of staff (RAND Education 2013). A broad group of stakeholders that

included teachers, principals, school districts and boards—as well as DPI

and the Wisconsin State Legislature—designed the System to serve the

purpose of improving educator support and strengthening educator

practice to improve student outcomes. Since the initial design and

implementation of the EE System, DPI has continuously refined the System

to better serve that purpose, in consultation with stakeholders and in

response to external evaluation and stakeholder feedback. Wisconsin

professional organization stakeholders and partners helped design the

system. These partners, including the Wisconsin Association of School

District Administrators (WASDA), the Association of Wisconsin School

Administrators (AWSA), the Wisconsin Association of School Boards

(WASB), and the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC),

contributed to and endorse the following recommendations regarding the

use of the Educator Effectiveness System for high stakes decisions.

Initial external evaluation results indicate that robust implementation of

the EE System process contributes positively to schools by improving

professional performance feedback and student achievement (Jones,

Gilman, and Pyatigorsky 2019). Findings also suggest the Wisconsin EE

System

improves school culture and teacher retention rates when

providing a robust process for individual educators to receive useful,

accurate feedback and support in their professional growth (Jones, Cain,

and Gilman 2019). However, the System is not designed for the use of

scores to compare teachers for accountability purposes. Such scores

include: practice components or standards, aggregate/overall practice

scores, SLO scores, or aggregate/overall Effectiveness scores.

22 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

Using Educator Effectiveness Data for High Stakes

Decisions

Historically, administrators have never struggled to identify their highest-

and lowest-performing educators. If Wisconsin wanted to simply identify

the highest- and lowest-performing educators, DPI would not have needed

to create the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System. The struggle within

traditional evaluation processes was to determine specific areas of

strength and areas for growth for ALL educators and to create a specific,

strategic plan for each individual educator leveraging areas of strength to

improve areas for growth across time. DPI designed the Wisconsin EE

System to successfully do just that.

Initial evaluation results suggest the System provides valid differentiation

across components at an individual educator level—meaning the System

works as designed and can inform specific areas of strength and areas for

growth for any individual educator. However, initial evaluation findings

indicated little variance when looking at aggregate scores and/or

comparing scores across educators. Thus, any high-stakes decision made

using EE data must be made at an individual level comparing growth across

time, not by comparing across educators. And, while the Wisconsin EE

System will provide more detailed, comprehensive, and specific data

regarding every individual educator to effectively inform local HR

processes in way impossible before, the EE System is not the HR process.

Non-Renewal

The EE System will effectively identify struggling educators but, more

importantly, the System will identify the educator’s specific level of practice

on any given component, how the current level of practice compares to

desired practice, and informs a specific plan for improving practice through

ongoing opportunities for practice and coaching conversations. If an

educator continuously fails to improve across time within the EE System,

administrators should utilize locally determined and transparently

communicated formal improvement efforts outside of the System as part of

the HR system. Such efforts might include additional observations and

requirements for participation in coaching and professional development. If

an educator fails to improve after participating in formal HR improvement

processes, it may be appropriate to move to corrective action, including

potential non-renewal. Through this process, data collected through the EE

System should inform non-renewal, but a district did not non-renew an

educator because of any given EE score.

Informing Pay

The EE System can be used as one source of evidence (along with other

human capital management system processes) to inform compensation

Local Decision Points

decisions at the individual level. However, a district should not create a

salary schedule solely based on EE scores (e.g., aggregate practice, overall

SLO, or overall EE scores) and districts should not determine which

educators receive additional compensation based on comparisons of said

scores because, as previously noted, initial external evaluation findings

indicated the System does work in this manner. Using scores in ways other

than intended (and as determined through the external evaluation) could

result in invalid or unreliable decisions and may place districts in legal

jeopardy.

School districts should always consult local legal counsel when determining

human resources policy related to the use of EE System results.

24 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 25

Appendix:

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness

System Policy Tool

26 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 27

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness

System Policy Tool

While the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness (EE) System is a state mandate, school boards,

districts, and schools make many of the most important implementation decisions. The purpose of

this section is to present implementation topics and assist districts in:

1. Ascertaining the statutory and practical necessities for implementation,

2. Determining the extent to which basic requirements are being met, and

3. Creating an EE Implementation Action Plan to improve local System implementation.

When determining local policy related to the EE System, districts should consider their local

context and other potential areas of impact when considering EE System requirements,

recommendations, and other decision points.

It is important to note that the EE System does not exist in isolation from other district initiatives.

This tool is not exhaustive, and there may be connections to decisions and processes in other

instructional and human resource systems as well as budget implications related to evaluation

implementation.

Each topic is accompanied by a continuum with three (3) levels which represent the degree to

which the topic has been addressed or implemented within the local EE process:

• Level 1: Initiating steps, but not implementing basic EE System elements.

• Level 2: Implementing basic EE System elements.

• Level 3: Refining System-wide structures and practices that maximize potential of the

System to enhance professional learning.

Local consideration points are provided for each topic and may help move the district along the

implementation continuum.

28 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

The following pages present local policy topics and related areas of consideration. Established

requirements (if any) specific to the topic area are presented along with potential decision points

for which there are not any requirements or recommendations. An example action planning

template follows.

Example:

INFRASTRUCTURE

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #1: (Communication) To engage BOE and parent stakeholder groups in EE overview

opportunities (for understanding the purposes and benefits of the EE system) by October 30,

2018.

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

Present EE

update to Board

of Education

August 2018 EE System

Coordinator,

Human

Resource

Director

Board member understanding as

measured by questioning during meeting

and follow-up communications (e.g., email

queries)

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 29

INFRASTRUCTURE

District- and school-level infrastructure can help facilitate understanding of the local EE process and improve implementation. Staffing,

budget, policies and procedures, communication, technology, and time comprise infrastructure sub-categories.

INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Staff allocation Potential staff roles are being

identified, but not designated

to individuals.

District individuals responsible for

EE System management, support,

and oversight are designated.

• New allocation or reallocation has been made to

create Educator Effectiveness support positions.

• New allocation or reallocation has been made to

provide multiple evaluators.

• District staff roles have been identified (i.e.,

Educator Effectiveness lead, IT lead, Educator

Effectiveness training lead) with resources

provided to support the roles.

• Job descriptions are updated to outline an

employee’s role related to Educator Effectiveness.

• An implementation team is created for system

oversight and to identify areas to improve support.

Budget A budget review process is

being considered.

Line item budget categories related

to EE are established.

• Supports for educators to complete EE tasks are in

place (i.e., floating sub, release days, stipends).

• The budget is reviewed or new resources are

sought to staff and support EE roles and functions.

• The district budget clearly shows targeted support

for EE.

30 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Policies and

Procedures

A preliminary policy and

procedure review is beginning.

Major policies and procedures are

in place.

• Policies and handbooks are aligned with the EE

System and are consistent across all schools in the

district.

• Written summaries and training are provided on

major policies and procedures.

Communication Preliminary discussions with

stakeholders have begun.

Policy, procedure, and support

communication occurs with all

major stakeholders.

• Trainings, handbook review, consistent messaging

and timeline for EE System communication are in

place.

• A process exists to communicate the specific

evaluation process to all employees.

• A process is in place to articulate district and

school priorities and how the EE process can

reinforce and support these priorities.

• Dedicated space is created and regularly updated

on the district website for internal and external

communication about EE System information,

processes and resources, including how schools,

educators and other stakeholders can provide

feedback on local EE System needs.

• Members of major stakeholder groups who

understand and can articulate the theory,

research, and goals of the EE System are leveraged

to spread understanding.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 31

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Technology Data infrastructure is not yet

sufficient to support evaluation

activities.

An evaluation management system

(e.g., Frontline Education) and plan

are in place for data acquisition,

storage, transfer and user support.

• The evaluation management system supports data

analysis and professional development, beyond

basic storage and retrieval.

• An assessment inventory is completed and

updated to support Student/School Learning

Objective (SLO) development and sharing.

Time The district recognizes that the

EE System will present new

time demands.

Adequate time is allocated for

successful completion of the EE

System’s minimum requirements.

• The district provides time (e.g., through scheduling,

resource allocation) for school leaders and

teachers to engage in richer EE practices, such as

coaching, lesson study, peer review, and data

sharing.

• The district provides examples of creative

scheduling arrangements for others to model or

adapt.

32 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS

Staff Allocation: While specific staff assignments are not required, districts must consider

whether to allocate staff for coordination, support, and monitoring of EE System implementation.

Other steps to consider may include:

• Review district and school organizational charts for existing roles and functions related to

teacher and principal evaluation to identify opportunities to convert or augment positions

for needed EE roles.

• Identify individuals responsible for implementation and monitoring at the district or school

level.

• Delegate and distribute principals’ administrative responsibilities (attendance, discipline,

maintenance) among relevant staff to allow greater time for principals to leverage the EE

process within instructional leadership.

• Designate or hire an EE System Coordinator to oversee EE System training, implementation

and monitoring.

• Identify and assign other roles and responsibilities related to the EE System throughout the

school or district.

• Hire additional staff to support the EE System at the district or school level.

• Work with school staff to identify schedule changes to support peer collaboration.

• Establish manageable evaluation caseloads to ease evaluator burden and maximize

feedback to educators.

• Contract with qualified outside evaluators, if necessary.

• Create contingency plans for emergencies and capacity issues, such as evaluators failing

certification.

• Assign evaluators to content and grade areas with which they are most familiar.

• Budget: Implementing new initiatives typically presses on time and financial resources.

Other steps to consider may include:

• Conduct a needs assessment for funding support to enhance implementation.

• Map existing supports across the district such as federal and state grant funds, CESA

supports, etc.

• Consider current use of Title II funds, and how they may be used to support the EE System.

• Reallocate existing funds or identify new funding sources to support staff in the EE System.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 33

Policies and Procedures: The purpose of this guide is to support districts in determining local EE

policy and procedures. Districts should consult local legal counsel prior to final decisions and

communication to stakeholders. Other steps to consider may include:

• Address confidentiality expectations and processes. Confidentiality is particularly

important if an educator is observed or has evidence collected by more than one person.

• Establish a plan for EE Cycle interruptions such as an extended absence (illness, FMLA, etc.)

or change in evaluator assignment.

• Determine whether educators who will no longer be employed at the end of the school year

for various reasons (e.g., termination, resignation, or retirement) must complete EE System

activities.

• Determine grounds for declaring a Summary Year invalid or null.

• Establish policy related to EE System results and their relationship to Plans of Improvement,

educator non-renewal, and other relevant human resource functions (see Educator

Effectiveness Integration <<link to section>> for more on this topic).

• Determine a process for local complaints, appeals and conflict resolution.

Communication: The EE System and its related process represent a significant change in the way

in which educator performance is supported and evaluated. Large scale change takes time.

Ongoing, timely, clear, and transparent communications, which are revised regularly to reflect

stakeholder feedback, help to build trust in the system. Other steps to consider may include:

• Identify key stakeholder groups (e.g., teachers, specialists, principals, school board, family,

and community members) to include in planning communications.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive communications plan.

• Include local EE System decisions and processes in staff handbook.

• Present important EE data and system updates to the local school board.

• Highlight effective teaching and leadership strategies in staff newsletters.

• Identify specific connections to EE within professional development events.

• Create a multi-lingual information brief explaining the EE System and its purpose of

improving teaching and learning.

• Plan communications related to certification and calibration schedules.

34 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

Technology: The EE System and its related documentation are enhanced and supported with the

use of technology. Thoughtful use of technology can assist with documentation, time constraints,

and communication. Other steps to consider may include:

• Consider the purchase of mobile devices and related applications to support timely,

efficient evidence collection.

• Determine the platform that will be used for data collection: Frontline Education

Professional Growth (formerly known as My Learning Plan – OASYS), Google products,

other.

• Work with IT to ensure technology infrastructure (e.g., firewalls, storage, etc.) is compatible.

Time: Conducting required EE System observations and conferences takes time. Districts must

plan to include sufficient time and flexibility to allow for the completion of actions required within

the EE System. Other considerations may include:

• Assign building management tasks to assistant principals and other school staff as needed.

• Replace peer reviewers’ supervision assignment with EE System support and coaching.

• Utilize team meetings, staff meetings, and in-service days to engage in EE System-related

work.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 35

INFRASTRUCTURE

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #1:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

36 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

INFRASTRUCTURE

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #2:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 37

TRAINING

Districts vary in their capacity to deliver EE System training and related professional development. DPI provides training supports

through EE training and guidance resources, and support services are provided by the district’s local Cooperative Education Support

Agency (CESA).

The EE System requires districts to provide orientation and training for those evaluating others and for those being evaluated using the

System. The EE System draws on multiple educator competencies that benefit from continued professional development. There are

local decisions and actions that can lead to ongoing, embedded, and aligned professional development which maximize the potential of

the System to impact student achievement.

TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Evaluator

training and

certification*

Evaluators have been notified

about training requirements.

Evaluators have completed

required training and certification.

• Internal calibration sessions occur regularly.

• A

dministrators engage in collaborative, ongoing

conversations about educator observations.

• T

raining reinforces trust-building by emphasizing

the learning-centered focus of the system. District

and school leaders cultivate a philosophy of

continuous teaching and leadership improvement

for improved student learning.

Educator

training*

Educators have been notified

about training opportunities.

Educators have completed

comprehensive overview and

orientation training on district-

selected EE model.

• Educators and evaluators regularly engage in

collaborative training opportunities to build

mutual understanding and support for the EE

process.

38 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Educator

training

(continued)

• Training moves beyond the how and why of

implementation to focus on comprehensive and

meaningful evaluation practices which inform

individual, school, and system improvement.

• Resource libraries, which include exemplary

classroom instruction and school leadership activities

(e.g., principal leading data retreat, school

improvement planning process, or staff professional

development) are created and regularly updated.

• Training includes the identification of high leverage

evidence sources for principal and teacher evaluation

to ensure that educators and evaluators are aware of

these sources and routinely use them.

• Opportunities are provided to participate in cross-

school or regional networks to share innovative

practices.

Support

personnel

training

Support personnel have been

identified and notified about

training opportunities.

Support personnel have completed

basic training on professional

conversations, coaching and

feedback.

• Support personnel engage in ongoing training and

collaboration to build mutual understanding and

support for the EE process.

• District and school leaders identify connections

between EE and content-specific practices and

communicate them to support personnel.

• Support personnel self-assess and set goals around

coaching competencies.

(*) Required EE System elements, see Section I of this guide.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 39

LOCAL TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS

Evaluator Training and Certification: Evaluator training is needed to improve the quality of

evaluation feedback and the consistency of evaluation ratings. Other steps to consider may

include:

• Define training qualifications locally for evaluators of principals (i.e., who evaluates? What

training?).

• Designate a coordinator to schedule, monitor, and communicate certification and

calibration efforts.

• Determine remediation training plans to support evaluators in training and certification.

• Collaboratively review and determine SLO ratings to calibrate feedback and evaluation

skills.

• Convene evaluators’ meetings more than once a semester to discuss the evaluation process,

including challenges and successes.

• Provide support to those struggling with observation accuracy from “high-level” observers.

• Consider implementing “shadow” observers who can join the primary observer and engage

in discussions about what was observed and what may be provided as feedback. This real-

time calibration can help improve accuracy of evidence collection and feedback quality.

Educator Training: Training is not only necessary to create a common understanding among

educators on local EE expectations, but also to help them maximize use of the EE System for

continuous improvement. Other steps to consider may include:

• Ensure coordination of EE System training by assigning responsibility to an EE System

Coordinator or district professional development (PD) and training professional.

• Make explicit linkages to components of the professional practice evaluation framework

within all PD content.

• Use the data from self-assessments and summary scores to determine PD priorities.

• Identify opportunities and provide supports for team-based SLOs.

• Plan and facilitate learning opportunities to strengthen SLO competencies.

• Include district and classroom data in training exercises to enhance relevance and

application.

• Outline EE System expectations of cooperating teachers working with preservice teaching

candidates.

40 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

• Provide ongoing PD for beginning teachers that addresses areas of needed improvement

(questioning, student engagement, analyzing student work, etc.).

• Partner with neighboring districts or local CESA to provide regional collaboration

opportunities for beginning teachers.

• Design PD that includes practices and strategies to address disproportionality in student

subgroup data.

• Create and update a library of high-quality EEP goals.

• Organize PD opportunities for district- or school-level teams to leverage learning and

dialogue with others.

• Design PD to target specific, needed areas of EEP improvement (such as developing,

analyzing, and using classroom, school and district assessments).

• Access and utilize all available DPI EE training resources as part of orientation, training, and

ongoing PD for all roles in the EE System.

• Utilize CESA supports and district-identified EE System training support to supplement DPI

EE System training.

Support Personnel Training: Support personnel include mentors, coaches, and peers. Districts

should plan for initial and ongoing support personnel training to expand capacity, support timely

completion of EE System tasks, and promote ongoing professional growth. See Section I of this

guide for further guidance. Other steps to consider may include:

• Develop position descriptions for support personnel, to include roles and responsibilities

within district resources.

• Build capacity of EE support personnel by including them in all training opportunities.

• Train support personnel to conduct classroom observations and provide ongoing, formative

feedback.

• Utilize teachers with demonstrated strengths in the EE process in training facilitation and

support roles.

• Utilize the EE coaching protocol and related training resources to strengthen feedback

skills.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 41

TRAINING

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #1:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

42 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

TRAINING

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #2:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 43

CONDUCTING THE EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS CYCLE

Wisconsin designed the EE Cycle to be a continuous improvement process best supported in a learning-centered environment. The

Wisconsin EE System Process User Guides describe the EE Cycle and process in detail. This subsection provides guidance for system-

level implementation.

CONDUCTING THE EE CYCLE CONTINUUM

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Orientation* District leadership has begun

discussions about including EE

System orientation

requirements.

Prior to the start of the evaluation

cycle, the district provides

orientation on the district EE

process to Summary Year

educators and educators new to

the district.

• District includes ongoing orientation to the EE

System in mentoring and induction curriculum.

• D

istrict EE System orientation is differentiated

for induction teachers and veteran staff.

Goal Setting* Some educators prepare

Educator Effectiveness Plans

(EEPs).

All educators engage in EEP

preparation, including analyzing

baseline data, conducting self-

assessments, and developing

Student/School Learning

Objectives (SLOs) and Professional

Practice Goals (PPGs).

• A repository of district goal examples has been

created.

• There is an established, school-wide, coordinated

effort around improving instruction and

assessment design and data literacy.

• Educators are encouraged to set rigorous goals

for all students and take risks related to new

learning without penalty.

• Educator EEP goals are relevant to school and

district goals where appropriate.

44 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

EE Conferences* Conferences are

inconsistently designed or

completed.

Educators and evaluators or peers

(in Supporting Years) have met for

EE conferences.

• Evaluators and educators regularly communicate

during the Summary Year.

• Support personnel meet with Supporting Year

educators.

• Conferences support a common understanding of

model domains/standards and rubrics.

• District makes resources available and regularly

shares resources to help educators meet

SLO/PPG goals.

Observations* Evaluators plan observations

but are inconsistent in

completing them.

Evaluators complete required

number of observation minutes

across necessary observation

events.

• Evaluators complete more than the minimum

number of observations.

• District employs peer, coach, and mentor

observations to provide formative feedback.

• Observers consistently provide feedback in a

timely and specific manner.

• Evaluators work to be invested partners in

improving an educator’s practices.

Artifacts Evaluators and educators are

beginning to plan for collecting

artifacts for evaluation of

practice and SLOs.

Educators and evaluators (or peers

in Supporting Years) discuss

artifacts to collect and submit.

• District identifies high-leverage artifacts.

• Educators and evaluators share a common

understanding that artifacts should demonstrate

student growth as well as performance.

• Evaluators and educators identify artifacts that

demonstrate student-directed thinking and

learning.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 45

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

SLO data

collection,

feedback and

scoring

Educators and evaluators have

collected data but have not

checked for completion or

provided SLO feedback or

scores.

During Supporting Years, peers

and support personnel help

educators with data collection and

provide SLO feedback.

During Summary Years, educators

and evaluators have coordinated

data collection to complete the

year and prepare for End-of-Cycle

Conferences.

• Peers, coaches, EE support personnel, evaluators

and educators work together to develop a

common understanding of data collection

requirements and high leverage evidence

sources.

• Support personnel and teachers work together to

develop a common understanding of SLO scoring

using the SLO rubric.

• Support personnel and teachers meet periodically

to calibrate SLO feedback and scoring.

• District updates an assessment repository to

ensure appropriate, reliable assessments are

available for different content areas and grade

levels. The repository may also include high

quality, teacher-developed assessment items or

rubrics.

Peer Support Educators are encouraged to

meet with peers to review

goals, but no formal support

structures are in place.

In Supporting Years, educators

meet with peers to review goals

within required EE System

conferences.

• Educators meet with peers regularly throughout

the EE cycle as part of team-based structures

(e.g., professional learning communities (PLCs),

data teams, grade-level teams) to review goals as

part of ongoing routine.

• Educators see peers as an important source for

feedback and seek out peer feedback

independently when possible.

46 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Feedback

(Timeliness)

Evaluators provide feedback,

but it may not be timely.

Evaluators consistently provide

timely feedback to all educators.

• Evaluators provide regular, timely feedback

throughout the EE Cycle as part of team-based

structures (PLCs, data teams, grade-level teams)

to review goals.

• Evaluators provide informal feedback to

educators on an ongoing basis throughout the EE

Cycle.

Feedback

(Quality)

Evaluators sometimes provide

inaccurate or vague feedback

which is not useful for

improvement (i.e., “Good

job!”).

Evaluators consistently provide

clear and direct feedback related

to the observation events, and

often aligned to the components of

the framework.

• Evaluators align feedback to framework

components, practices, and educator progress

toward individual, building, or district EEP goals.

• Evaluators provide highly specific feedback and

often target an identified growth area for the

practitioner.

• Evaluators incorporate evidence from

observations and from reviewing artifacts (high

leverage evidence sets) when providing feedback.

• Feedback leads to actions that improve educator

practice.

(*) Required EE System elements, see Section I of this guide.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 47

LOCAL EE CYCLE CONSIDERATIONS

Orientation*: Districts must provide teachers who are new to the district or entering a Summary

Year with an orientation to the EE System. The orientation allows teachers and their evaluators to

discuss the evaluation criteria, the evaluation process, evidence collection, continuous

improvement cycles, use of evaluation results, and any questions or concerns. Other steps to

consider may include:

• Create plans for identifying and informing educators of their evaluation cycle status (i.e.,

Summary or Supporting Year status).

• Align orientation to other onboarding and support activities efficiently.

• Determine which educators will be evaluated more frequently, and in what instances (if

any).

• Include a comprehensive EE System overview (including local EE processes and policies) as

part of orientation to those new to the profession or new to the district. All educators

entering their Summary Year should also receive the orientation or a refresher.

Goal-Setting*: An Educator Effectiveness Plan (EEP), or equivalent, is required annually as part of

the EE System. In the DPI model, two goals are required as part of the EEP: 1) the Professional

Practice Goal (PPG), and 2) the Student/School Learning Objective (SLO). Administrator approval

of EEP goals is not required prior to implementation. However, SLOs are assessed annually over

the course of the EE Cycle and the SLO rubric ratings in the Supporting Years are used to

determine a holistic SLO rating in the Summary Year. Districts need to determine a process for

submitting goals and scores in Supporting Years so that they may be used to inform overall ratings

in the Summary Year. Other steps to consider may include:

• Determine the number of Professional Practice and Student Learning Objective goals the

district will require within the annual EEP.

• Identify instances which may require more than one goal, such as educators whose student

populations change with the semester.

• Identify instances when goal-setting will align to or be combined with other district

functions or assigned by an evaluator (i.e., Plans of Improvement or intensive assistance).

• Determine to what extent EEP goals will be teacher-directed or aligned at the district or

building level.

• Determine what assessments are locally required (if any) for use in SLOs.

• Consider alignment opportunities for EEP goals and other district/building initiatives.

• Determine and communicate any instances where goal-setting activities impact any other

high-stakes human resource decisions (i.e., compensation structures).

48 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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• Determine a process for submission of EEP goals in Supporting Years and Summary Years.

• Establish opportunities for EEP progress monitoring throughout an EE cycle, including

ongoing documentation of progress.

EE Conferences*: EE conferences are required as part of the EE System. Conferences include the

Planning, Mid-Year, and End-of-Cycle Conference. The EE conferences provide educators with an

opportunity to receive specific feedback that will inform next steps and potential changes to EEP

goals and strategies. Other considerations may include:

• Determine the extent to which personnel serving as evaluators or coaches, other than

building principals, will be involved in the planning session - Summary Year vs. Supporting

Years.

• Determine if EEPs must be reviewed by an administrator in the Supporting Years prior to

implementation.

• Determine whose responsibility it is to schedule, conduct, and document the meetings.

• Determine who (or what roles) might attend EE conference meetings at the request of the

educator, the evaluator, or both.

Observations*: The EE System requires observations of classroom and leadership practice (see

Section I of this guide, “System Requirements”). Other considerations may include:

• Determine the type and frequency of observations if going beyond system requirements (see

Section I).

• Determine when, how, under what conditions and on what scale (i.e., individually,

systemically, for a specific group of educators, etc.) it is appropriate to intensify the type and

frequency of observations.

• Consider using video to address evaluator capacity and availability.

• Consider the ramifications of an uncertified/uncalibrated observer providing observation

feedback.

• Determine whether evaluators may or may not access information from another observer.

• Define and document roles and responsibilities of others who conduct observations,

provide feedback, and contribute to an educator’s evidence set:

- peers, and

- other administrators, such as district office staff or other building administrators.

• Determine whether educators may engage in self-observation and reflection based on

video evidence.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 49

Artifacts: Artifacts include documents, teaching and leadership plans, meeting agendas and notes

(among other possibilities). Artifact collection can help document performance as well as inform

continuous improvement. Other steps to consider may include:

• Determine the local expectations around the kinds and number of artifacts to be included in

an evidence set.

• Identify and communicate to educators “high leverage” artifacts that may support multiple

domains/components/EEP evidence.

• Determine if any specific documents will be required by the school or district as artifacts.

• Determine and communicate methods for submitting or archiving evidence.

• Work with IT to determine storage, security, and other technological constraints if not using

the chosen EE model’s electronic platform to store artifacts and evidence.

SLO Data Collection, Feedback, and Scoring: Scoring SLOs is not required by the state as part of

the EE System. Districts have the flexibility to provide feedback at the critical attribute level which

serves to inform goal-setting for the next EE Cycle. Peers or those acting in formative support

roles (including mentors, department coordinators, implementation coaches, and instructional

coaches) engage in ongoing review of EEPs in Supporting Years of the EE cycle through required

EE conferences. Other steps to consider may include:

• Determine if your district is going to score SLOs or components of the professional practice

framework.

• Determine how scores can be communicated.

• Determine an appeals process to address scores that are disputed or challenged.

• Determine a procedure to address scores that need to be changed.

• Determine who can initiate a scoring change:

- under what conditions, and

- with what kind of documentation.

Peer Support: To support schools and educators, peer support and collaboration is required in the

EE System. Other steps to consider may include:

• Address how colleagues may provide peer support to educators during Summary and

Supporting Years.

• Inform all educators and evaluators about appropriate peer support roles and assurances of

confidentiality.

• Determine to what degree peers can contribute to an educator’s evidence collection.

50 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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Feedback: Feedback needs to be ongoing, and specific enough to apply to the educator’s practice.

Feedback can be written or verbal and can take place outside of formal EE conferences or

observations. Other considerations may include:

• Determine expectations for delivering feedback, including:

- How quickly will feedback be given?

- How often will an educator receive feedback?

- How can an educator challenge or supplement feedback from an observer or evaluator

(see also: observations)?

- Which written formats are acceptable when providing feedback?

- How is verbal feedback documented?

- For what instances might feedback not be given?

- How can an educator request additional feedback, or additional detail with feedback, to

make the feedback specific and substantive enough to apply to the educator’s practice?

• Determine to what degree feedback is considered evidence.

• Create open and transparent communications regarding the district’s approach to and use

of data from the EE System.

• Begin or refine professional learning community (PLC) structures to support ongoing

review of data and educator collaboration.

• Train coaches and peer reviewers to engage in effective professional conversations that

provide educators with actionable feedback.

• Determine a procedure for documenting communications.

• Verify all members of a team contributing to a Summary Year rating for an educator have

been trained as appropriate.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 51

CONDUCTING THE EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS CYCLE

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #1:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

52 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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CONDUCTING THE EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS CYCLE

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #2:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 53

MONITORING

Ultimate responsibility lies with local education agencies (LEAs) to ensure all legally required evaluations, including those using the

Wisconsin EE System, are completed. Districts should monitor their local evaluation systems to ensure that tasks are being completed

and systems are accomplishing district goals. DPI’s state-level monitoring can provide support but is not a substitute for local

monitoring.

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

District-level

process

District administrators are

considering ways to check on

progress and complete System

requirements.

A district system of timelines and

process for completion of required

activities has been established.

The Wisconsin Educator

Development, Support and

Retention (WEDSR) survey, the

external evaluation survey, is

disseminated and educators are

encouraged to complete it.

• An EE Implementation Team is convened and

expanded to include parents, board members,

administrators and educators to monitor the EE

System.

• Local EE System supports and their alignment to

school improvement are documented.

• Supports are assigned for evaluators and

educators based on ongoing monitoring.

• The WEDSR survey is completed annually, and the

results are used to inform district monitoring and

improvement processes.

• An internal, formative evaluation of locally-specific

implementation practices is conducted.

• The district’s EE Implementation Team reviews

monitoring and System evaluation reports

regularly to adjust goals and priorities.

54 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

School-level

process

Building-level administrators

have been informed about the

need to check on progress and

complete school-level

requirements.

Building-level administrators have a

system of timelines and completion

checks.

The WEDSR survey is disseminated

and educators are encouraged to

complete it.

• Supports are assigned for evaluators and

educators based on ongoing monitoring.

• Regular evaluator meetings are held to maintain

internal consistency and provide peer support.

• The WEDSR survey is completed annually, and the

results are used to inform school monitoring and

improvement processes.

• Recommendations are made to the district’s EE

Implementation Team to improve supports.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 55

LOCAL MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

District-level process: Districts should monitor local evaluation systems for completeness,

fairness, and success in supporting district priorities.

• Districts must determine whether an educator is required to be evaluated using the

Wisconsin EE System. Districts should determine when evaluations should occur, for whom,

and under what approach. Use the EE Flowchart to determine which educators are required

to be evaluated under the EE System.

• Consider incorporating educators in alternative settings (e.g., Community 4K, Alternative

Education, Department of Corrections, Health and Human Services education programs)

into the district’s evaluation systems. Are these educators:

- Employed by the district? Or do they provide services to the district but maintain

employment elsewhere? Note: if they provide services to but are employed by someone

other than the district, they are not required to be evaluated using the EE System.

- In roles (e.g., Gifted/Talented, Instructional Coach) in which they do not manage a

classroom environment?

• Establish evaluation models and processes for those not required to be evaluated using the

EE System.

• Determine timelines and processes for schools to report completion of Summary Year

activities.

• Monitor evaluator certification requirements.

• Monitor district supports for evaluators and educators to continually improve access and

support activities.

• Cooperate with the DPI-funded, external evaluation of the statewide system.

• Attend an Educator Effectiveness Exchange – Data Retreat.

• Assign responsibility for planning and coordinating the local implementation of the EE

System to a staff role (i.e., EE System Coordinator) or team.

• Recruit a team of diverse stakeholders to serve as representatives on an EE Implementation

Team.

• Determine how system data will be collected and analyzed to inform refinements and

professional development.

• Establish a method for educators and evaluators to provide feedback on district EE System

processes and ways to strengthen, support and improve alignment to school and educator

priorities.

56 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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• Monitor the effectiveness of CESA Implementation Coach support to district leaders,

evaluators, and educators and provide constructive feedback to improve support.

• Include questions related to EE System implementation in exit interviews.

• Engage the local school board in monitoring EE System implementation progress and

addressing needs through board policy.

School-level process: Schools should ensure evaluators, educators, and support personnel

maintain evaluation timelines and follow all state, district, and school policies and procedures.

• Create and maintain EE System timelines, including observations and conferences.

• Establish process for collection of artifacts.

• Engage in ongoing dialogue between the district EE System Coordinator, district leadership,

and relevant departments to coordinate EE needs and supports.

• Monitor the effectiveness of CESA Implementation Coach support to district leaders,

evaluators, and educators and provide constructive feedback to improve support.

• Use EE System ratings to inform professional development planning.

• Provide educators and evaluators with the opportunity to provide feedback on district EE

System processes, ways to strengthen support to educators, and ways to improve alignment

to school and educator priorities.

• Use staff feedback and EE System ratings to provide professional development activities

that move beyond System implementation and focus on best practice strategies.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 57

MONITORING

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #1:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

58 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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MONITORING

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #2:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 59

EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS INTEGRATION

To facilitate EE System implementation across individuals and schools, districts should consider areas where the System can be

strategically integrated or aligned with other important district priorities and processes. This section helps districts identify and address

alignment issues.

INTEGRATION CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUUM

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

System

Alignment

District and school leaders are

beginning to identify

connections between

instructional improvement

priorities and the EE process.

The EE System is integrated with

school and district instructional

improvement strategies.

• The EE System is a key part of district and school

continuous improvement strategies as evident in

the employee handbook, district strategic plan and

website.

• The district has conducted an HR alignment

assessment and uses results to improve alignment.

• EEPs and evidence collection target high leverage

sources of information relevant to district and

school improvement priorities.

Recruitment District and school leaders are

discussing possible methods to

communicate with applicants

about the EE System.

EE System communications are

provided to candidates in

interviews and are available on the

district website.

• Job postings include EE System, model-specific

references.

• Applicants are informed about supports available

to be successful educators.

• Applicants are informed about EE System

requirements.

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Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Selection District and school leaders are

discussing possible links

between EE model

competencies and selection

strategies.

The district uses interview

questions and scoring rubrics

aligned with the EE System when

making employment selections.

• Selection process includes multiple assessment

tasks (i.e., demonstration lessons; in-basket

activities or observation and feedback tasks for

administrators) that focus on EE competencies.

• Interview team is trained for consistency with

selection assessments.

• EE results inform nomination process for teacher

leaders (mentor and master educators).

Induction District and school leaders are

considering EE System

information as part of the

induction process.

New hires receive orientation on EE

System training, processes,

expectations, and linkages to

supports as part of the induction

program.

• New hires routinely access EE tools (e.g.,

evaluation technology), training and supports,

including those provided at district (EE lead) and

school (PLCs, school leadership) levels.

• Differentiated induction plans are crafted to

reflect self-identified/EdTPA areas in need of

improvement.

Cooperating

Teachers

Pre-service educators (i.e.,

student teachers) are placed

with volunteer cooperating

teachers. No specific training is

provided by the district.

Educators demonstrating effective

professional practices and student

outcomes are encouraged to accept

placement of pre-service educators

and are provided guidance on how

to support preservice teachers in EE

practices.

• Pre-service educators are only placed with

teachers demonstrating effective practices and

positive student outcomes.

• District and local educator preparation institutions

coordinate cooperating teacher training and

qualifications to support development of EE

System-ready candidates.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 61

Sub-

categories

LEVEL 1

Initiating steps, but not yet

implementing basic System

elements

LEVEL 2

Implementing basic Educator

Effectiveness System elements

LEVEL 3

Refining structures and practices that maximize

potential of the System to enhance professional and

student learning

Examples follow:

Cooperating

Teachers

(continued)

• District coordinates with local teacher preparation

programs to align cooperating teacher and field

supervisor training to ensure aligned support of

pre-service educators.

Mentoring Mentoring is being discussed,

but not yet initiated.

Mentors receive foundational

training which includes information

related to their supporting role in

the EE System process.

• Mentors receive ongoing training to support their

own professional growth and development.

• Mentors observe beginning teachers’ classrooms

and provide formative feedback to new hires or

struggling educators.

Professional

Development

(PD)

District and school leaders are

beginning to discuss

connections between PD

offerings and EE model

competencies.

The district and schools develop PD

plans based on individual and

aggregated EE data.

• PD activities help educators improve performance

on the EE System’s measures of practice.

Advancement Some preliminary discussions

have occurred about whether

advancement opportunities

and the compensation system

support district improvement

objectives.

The district is considering how EE

data might be used in a career

ladder or other advancement

system, aligned to the purpose of

the EE System.

• Career ladder committee is created with broad

stakeholder involvement.

• Advancement model alternatives are reviewed

based on comprehensive criteria (e.g.,

measurement quality, budget sustainability), and

district improvement priorities.

• Formal and informal leadership opportunities are

widely available and filled.

62 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

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LOCAL EE INTEGRATION CONSIDERATIONS

System Alignment: There are two primary areas for systems alignment: 1) instructional and

leadership improvement priorities; and 2) human resource management processes. Other steps to

consider may include:

• Consider how the EE process and results can inform or augment school and district

instructional and leadership improvement priorities.

• Determine the extent to which human resource practices and decisions align to teacher and

leader competencies within the EE system and how alignment may be improved. Consider

conducting a human resource alignment assessment (see Strengthening the Educator

Workforce through Human Resources Alignment).

Recruitment: Staffing efforts are enhanced when districts identify educators with EE System

knowledge, skills, and dispositions and districts work collaboratively with educator preparation

programs to ensure candidates are prepared with the needed competencies. Districts and schools

may develop recruitment approaches to reach System-ready candidates, by highlighting the

district, school, and community strengths. Other steps to consider may include:

• Promote features of learning-centered environments in recruitment efforts.

• Develop barrier-free local recruitment efforts (communications, scheduling) to ensure top

candidates can participate.

• Partner with local preparation programs to design programs which support local,

paraprofessional educators to become licensed.

• Communicate district and school priorities, supports, and job expectations to candidates.

• Remove barriers to place pre-service candidates in student teaching positions. Examples

may include: distance learning for required coursework, temporary housing, and

transportation vouchers.

Candidate Selection: Selection planning involves developing assessment tools and processes

which identify teachers and leaders who both meet the needed competencies and best fit the

district and school context. Other steps to consider may include:

• Identify a selection team, develop selection assessments, and train the team in the selection

process.

• Align interview tasks and questions to reflect competencies included in the EE professional

practice model.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 63

• Example: Which domain and component on the (district model) framework would you

identify as a strength? Weakness? Based on what evidence?

• Develop a process to include demonstrations of teaching and leadership competencies to

identify strengths and areas of needed support.

Induction: Induction activities begin soon after candidates are hired and typically continue

through the first year of employment. Support may include information about the district, working

conditions, job expectations, and support from a mentor or peer. Other steps to consider may

include:

• Give beginning teachers an additional prep period or remove supervision duties from their

workload.

• Create common time for teachers to support each other with SLOs and PPGs.

• Guide beginning teachers in a crosswalk of EdTPA and the EE System model framework to

construct EEP goals and individualized supports.

• Draft hiring and acceptance letter language related to expected beginning teacher

participation in ongoing, induction-related PD.

• Curate resources, specific to beginning teachers’ needs, related to professional practice

framework components.

• Consider extending induction supports beyond the first year.

Mentoring: PI 34 requires teachers with a provisional license to receive support by a designated

colleague (mentor). The mentor provides formative support to the beginning teacher in the first,

Summary Year of the EE Cycle. The criteria for mentor training is determined by the district.

Other steps to consider may include:

• What informal and formal supports are provided to new and struggling educators? How

might they be improved?

• Establish local mentor training expectations to include foundational and ongoing training.

• Create a mentor position description which outlines the mentor roles and responsibilities.

• Identify and train skilled educators, who are also knowledgeable about adult learning, to

serve as mentors.

• Provide mentorship to beginning teachers beyond the first year of employment (i.e., for an

additional 2-3 years).

• Allocate resources to support a release-model mentor to all first-year teachers.

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Professional Development: The EE process can serve as an ongoing professional development

experience, with educators setting their own PPGs and receiving feedback and support from peers

and evaluators that informs ongoing improvement. Other school and district professional

development opportunities can build upon and enhance the learning experience from EE and vice

versa. Other steps to consider may include:

• Use building-level observation data to identify areas of needed improvement and target PD

to support those areas.

• Link PD resources to relevant domains and components so that educators might self-select

resources to support areas of needed improvement.

• Analyze professional practice ratings to determine areas of common need and identify

appropriate PD to address those needs.

Advancement: Formal and informal recognition and leadership opportunities can enhance

employee satisfaction and retention. Other steps to consider may include:

• Engage stakeholders in discussion of teacher leadership opportunities to identify need,

possible leadership roles (e.g., leading PD, coaching, mentoring, and curriculum review

committees), selection strategies, and compensation.

• Utilize identified educator strengths (as demonstrated by the EE System and other data) to

inform leadership selection strategies.

Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Tool 65

INTEGRATION

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #1:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

66 Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System Policy Guide

January 2020

INTEGRATION

IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEMPLATE

Goal #2:

Action Step Timeline

Person(s)

Responsible

Indicators of Success

References 67

References

RAND Education. 2012. “Teachers Matter: Understanding Teachers’ Impact on Student

Achievement.” (No. CP-693/1 (09/12)).

https://www.rand.org/education-and-

labor/projects/measuring-teacher-effectiveness/teachers-matter.html.

RAND Education. 2013. “Leadership Matters: How to Principals Promote Teaching Effectiveness.”

(No. CP-693/6). https://www.rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/CP693z6.html

Jones, Curtis J., Leon Gilman, and Mikhail Pyatigorsky. 2019. “The Impact of the Wisconsin Educator

Effectiveness Process on Student Achievement.” Evaluation brie

https://uwm.edu/sreed/wp-content/uploads/sites/502/2019/10/ WEERP-

EE-Student-Achievement-Brief-August-2019-1.pdf

Jones, Curtis J., Elizabeth Cain, and Leon Gilman. 2019. “The Impact of the Wisconsin Educator

Effectiveness Process on New Teacher Turnover.” Evaluation brief.

https://uwm.edu/officeofresearch/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2019/01/WEERP-New-

Teacher-Retention-Brief-September-2019.pdf