BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 1270, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 1270. The Delaware Performance Appraisal System II.
(h)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the educator evaluation system under this section is suspended for the 2020-2021 school year. In lieu of the educator evaluation system, educators must engage in an observation and feedback cycle designed to provide coaching and support related to hybrid and remote learning practices that encourage all of the following:
a. Relationship building.
b. Student engagement in learning.
c. Standards-aligned curriculum implementation.
(2) The observation and feedback cycle under paragraph (h)(1) of this section must include all of the following:
a. An initial goal setting process.
b. Classroom observation.
c.
An end-of-year conference between the educator and evaluator.
(3) The evaluator shall record feedback provided to an educator under this subsection in the Data Service Center platform and must include all of the following:
a. Component and Criterion level ratings as developed for the 2020-2021 school year.
b. Any narrative language related to recommendations or commendations on the educator’s performance. Recommendations on performance may not result in a formal improvement plan.
(4) The only forms that an educator must complete under this subsection are the following:
a. The goal setting form.
b. A verification form, created by the Department, to ensure that the educator’s observation and feedback cycle has been completed.
(5) Evidence collected and feedback provided during observations under this subsection may not be used for either of the following:
a. As part of the evaluation cycle.
b. T
o assign a summative rating for the 2020-2021 school year
.
(6) Formal improvement plans in place for the 2020-2021 school year remain in effect through the next evaluation cycle under this section.
SYNOPSIS
This Act suspends the educator evaluation system during the 2020-2021 school year and replaces it with an observation and feedback cycle that provides educators with coaching and support related to hybrid and remote learning practices. This Act provides for all of the following during the observation and feedback cycle:
1. An initial goal setting process, classroom observation, and end-of-year conference.
2. Feedback provided to an educator must be recorded in the Data Service Center platform.
3. Evidence collected and feedback provided during observations may not be used as part of the evaluation cycle or to assign a summative rating for the 2020-2021 school year.
4. Recommendations on performance may not result in a formal improvement plan.
5. Educators must complete only the goal setting form and a verification form.
This Act also provides that formal improvement plans in place for the 2020-2021 school year remain in effect through the next evaluation cycle under this section.
Author: Senator Townsend
