Dr. WAC on Student Growth Requirements for Focused Evaluations

Dr. WAC on Student Growth Requirements for Focused Evaluations

Hi everybody, it’s Dr. WAC again with an answer to a question from one of our great principals. Here it is:

GP: I have been told by my teachers that they have been advised that student growth is no longer a requirement for a focused evaluation. Is that true?

Dr. W: No, but I understand the confusion. OSPI recently came out with a correction in their bulletin discussing this issue. In it, the point was made that there is no Student Growth Inquiry for a focused evaluation. A Student Growth Inquiry is required when the analysis of all student growth elements or components in a comprehensive evaluation results in a low score on the state’s scoring band. The scoring band is based on 20 possible points (5 elements X 4 possible points each). 

Because the state did not create a scoring band for the 1 or 2 student growth elements in a single criterion in a focused evaluation, there is not a Student Growth Inquiry that would follow. Does this mean that there is no requirement to include student growth in a focused evaluation? No. There is still a requirement to include student growth in the criterion being evaluated. In a teacher’s evaluation, if Criterion 3, 6 or 8 are not chosen, then the student growth elements in Criterion 3 or 6 must still be added to the elements in the chosen criterion and be factored into the criterion score, which becomes the summative score. In a principal’s evaluation, if Criterion 3, 5, or 8 are not chosen, then the student growth element from one of them must be added to the criterion chosen.

Thanks for sending in the question, Great Principal.