We have recently reported on House Bill 555 which was signed into law by Governor Kasich on December 20, 2012.  Certain provisions of the Bill modify the method in which the value-added progress dimension or student academic growth measure must be used to evaluate teachers.

Under continuing law, the State Board must adopt a framework for teacher evaluations which provide for multiple evaluation factors.  One such factor addressed by the Bill is student academic growth.  Student academic growth should for fifty percent of each evaluation.  The Bill provides that when applicable to the grade level or subject area taught by a teacher, the value-added progress dimension or an alternative student academic progress measure, if adopted, shall be used in the student academic growth portion of an evaluation in proportion to the part of a teacher’s schedule of courses or subjects for which the value-added progress dimension is applicable.

The Bill further provides that if a teacher’s schedule is comprised only of courses or subjects for which the value-added progress dimension is applicable, one of the following applies:

  • Beginning with the effective date of this Bill (90 days from passage) until June 30, 2014, the majority of the student academic growth factor of the evaluation shall be based on the value-added progress dimension.
  • On or after July 1, 2014, the entire student academic growth factor of the evaluation shall be based on the value-added progress dimension. (In calculating student academic growth for an evaluation, a student shall not be included if the student has sixty or more unexcused absences for the school year).

The Bill also exempts substitutes and adult education instructors from the requirements of the evaluation law. We will keep you posted with any further developments.  The text of the bill can be viewed at:

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_555