Here are some tips to keep in mind at T-TESS time

This article addresses procedures, timelines, remedies and related information concerning the state-recommended appraisal process, the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System, including such information pertinent to the end of the school year and annual appraisal cycle. The following information is not intended to address locally developed and adopted teacher appraisal processes.

T-TESS is designed to evaluate teachers through criteria “based on observable, job-related behavior” including teacher implementation of discipline management procedures and student performance. Teachers must be appraised annually, unless a school district formally adopts policies providing for less than annual appraisal. Further, and at the minimum, the teacher must agree in writing to less than annual appraisal and have been rated as at least “proficient” in all areas in their most recent evaluation. Normally school district policies will allow for placing a teacher back on the annual appraisal cycle simply by written notice. Further, a school district may still informally review teacher performance during a school year in which the teacher is not formally appraised, normally at the end of the school year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all teachers must be appraised at least once every five years. Advance notice of an appraisal may be given but is not required. The appraisal must be based only on classroom teaching performance and not on performance as to any extracurricular activities. School districts must annually adopt a teacher appraisal calendar.

Teacher appraisal calendar

Sometimes teachers are not aware of their district’s local appraisal calendar, the specifics of such, and/or its importance.

TEA rules provide that the school district must provide (or provide access to) the calendar to teachers within three weeks of the first date of instruction. The calendar must exclude observations in the two weeks following a T-TESS orientation in school years in which such is required.

Observations must be conducted during the required days of instruction for students during a single school year. Local appraisal calendars may provide a window in which initial formal observations of at least 45 minutes should be conducted. An observation post-conference must be conducted within 10 working days after the completion of an observation. Appraisers in some school districts are conducting initial observations later this school year, which is relevant to the information that follows.

Additional observations, including walkthroughs, conducted at any time during the appraisal period also require a written summary within 10 working days of that observation if such will affect the teacher’s summative appraisal ratings. Importantly, the teacher’s remedial options also involve mandatory timelines (see below).

The appraiser is also responsible for documentation of cumulative data, which may be gathered at any time during the appraisal period. This data is not based on formal classroom observations, but other sources, including third parties and walkthroughs. Any third-party information that the certified appraiser wishes to include as cumulative data must be verified and documented by the certified appraiser. Any documentation that will influence the teacher’s summative annual appraisal report must be shared in writing with the teacher within 10 working days of the certified appraiser’s knowledge of the matter being documented. Receipt of cumulative data may occur at any time, even after receiving a summative report.

An end-of-year conference must be held within a time frame specified on the school district calendar, no later than 15 working days before the last day of instruction for students. The written summative annual appraisal report must be shared with the teacher within 10 working days following the conclusion of the end-of-year conference but no later than 15 working days before the last day of instruction.

Teacher remedies: When and what

Three different remedies may be considered when teachers receive any written appraisal document with which they disagree. The proper remedy will be based on the type, content and timeliness of the document at issue, as well as the teacher’s timeline for asserting the specific remedy sought. Except for the specific restrictions addressed below, requests for second appraisals and written rebuttals must be submitted within 10 working days of the teacher’s receipt of the objectionable document. The third remedy, filing a formal grievance, is best utilized for appraiser procedural errors, including failure to abide by mandatory T-TESS timelines. The specific timeline

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