INFORMATIONAL

 In response to the 1999 Education Accountability and Quality Enhancement Act 
(House Bill 2710 and Senate Bill 1145), the Board of Education adopted the attached 
Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, 
Administrators, and Superintendents.  The act amended the Code of Virginia to 
require, in part, the following:

¨ Each school board shall evaluate the division superintendent annually.  The Board 
  of Education shall develop guidelines for uniform performance standards and 
  criteria to be used by local school boards in evaluating superintendents.  These 
  standards and criteria shall include, but not be limited to, assessing teacher 
  and administrator skills and knowledge, improving student academic progress, 
  providing for school safety and enforcing student discipline. (22.1-60.1)

¨ The Board of Education shall sponsor, conduct, or provide advice on... training 
  for all administrative and supervisory personnel in the evaluation and 
  documentation of teacher and administrator performance based on student academic 
  progress and the skills and knowledge of such instructional or administrative 
  personnel. (22.1-253.13:5.D)

¨ Beginning September 1, 2000, (i) principals must have received training in the 
  evaluation and documentation of employee performance, which evaluation and 
  documentation shall include, but shall not be limited to, employee skills 
  and knowledge and student academic progress, prior to submitting such 
  recommendations; and (ii) assistant principals and other administrative personnel 
  participating in the evaluation and documentation of employee performance
  must also have received such training in the evaluation and documentation of 
  employee performance.(22.1-293.C)

¨ Each local school board shall adopt for use by the division superintendent 
  clearly defined criteria for a performance evaluation process for principals, 
  assistant principals, and supervisors that includes, among other things, an 
  assessment of such administrators' skills and knowledge; student academic progress 
  and school gains in student learning; and effectiveness in addressing school 
  safety and enforcing student discipline.  The division superintendent shall 
  implement such performance evaluation process in making employment recommendations 
  to the school board... (22.1-294.B)

The Board of Education Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation 
Criteria provide the framework for school divisions to use to develop evaluation 
criteria for teachers, administrators (principals and instructional central office 
personnel), and superintendents. They are intended to provide guidance for school 
boards in the development of evaluation policies and procedures.   

On behalf of the Board of Education, the Department of Education will offer training 
on the evaluation and documentation of teacher and administrator performance based 
on student academic progress and the skills and knowledge of such instructional or 
administrative personnel.  Education administrators and faculty from The College of 
William and Mary, the University of Virginia, and members of the Virginia Association 
of School Superintendents (VASS) will be involved in developing and administering 
the training program.   Additional information on these training opportunities will 
be provided at a later date.

The Department of Education plans to continue the next phase of this initiative by 
developing prototype instruments for teachers, administrators, and superintendents. 
The draft prototypes are expected to be available in the 2001-2002 school year.

The guidelines may be accessed on the Department of Education's website, 
www.pen.k12.va.us (refer to the teacher education and licensure icon).  Questions 
regarding the guidelines, the training opportunities, or the prototypes should be 
directed to  Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent of teacher education 
and licensure, at (804) 371-2522.

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