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TSTA OPPOSES ACCOUNTABILITY LOOPHOLE IN SCHOOL FINANCIAL EMERGENCY RULE
TSTA is urging state Education Commissioner Robert Scott to delete a section from a new state rule that could remove any financial accountability for school districts that seek to declare financial exigencies, or emergencies, under a new state law.
HOUSE PUBLIC ED TO MEET ON INTERIM CHARGE
On Jan. 23, the House Public Education Committee will discuss their interim committee charge, which includes the new state assessment system, end-of-course testing, and changes to graduation or testing requirements. The public hearing is at 1 p.m. in room E2.036 of the Capitol.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/schedules/html/C4002012012313001.htm
USE YOUR FOLLOW-UP PDAS CONFERENCE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Okay, you’ve had a PDAS observation -- now what? Remember, you only have ten working days from the date you sign the PDAS Observation Summary Report form to draft a rebuttal or request a second appraiser. A grievance must be filed within the timelines of your local district’s grievance policy (usually DGBA [LOCAL]). Also, check policy DNA [LOCAL] to see if there is a different timeline for filing a grievance over your PDAS.
One of the rights and responsibilities you have as a part of your appraisal is to have a conference following your classroom observation. According to the Commissioner’s Rules on PDAS, the annual teacher appraisal includes a written summary of each observation, which shall be given to teachers within ten working days after the completion of an observation, with a pre- and post-observation conference conducted at the request of the teacher or certified appraiser. (TAC §150.1003(b)(2)).
When your appraiser comes into your classroom, she or he wants to be able to make connections between what has been taught, what you are teaching now, and what you will be teaching down the road. The post-observation conference represents your best opportunity to bridge any gaps that may still exist in the mind of your appraiser. Let your appraiser know you want to follow up with a conference – even if your appraisal is good, and assemble these documents to prepare for the meeting:
- Your PDAS Observation Summary Report, which shall be given to you within ten working days after the observation, prior to the conference.
- Your documentation to speak to any deficiencies reflected in the report form.
- Diagnostic notes taken by the appraiser during the observation (request these in writing).
- Lesson plans for the lesson(s) taught during the observation
Be sure to take notes during the conference and ask if you can tape record it – this meeting should be taken seriously by both you and your appraiser. Although the purpose of this conference it to receive and clarify feedback to help you grow as a teacher, a real outcome of the conference can be getting ratings changed to higher ones if necessary.
Before the conference
- Determine your timelines for requesting a second appraiser, submitting a rebuttal, or filing a grievance. These timelines are very specific; don’t wait for the outcome of the post-observation conference to make a decision about how to move forward. Contact the TSTA Help Center at 1-800-324-8782 if you need assistance.
- Inform your PDAS appraiser in writing that you want a post-conference after you have received and reviewed your PDAS Observation Summary
Report -- ideally, you should schedule one within seven days of receipt so that everything is fresh when you have the conference. Make sure you keep a copy of your documentation (hard copy and e-format) requesting the conference. If at all possible, do not sign your PDAS report until you have your post-conference as the ten working day timeline begins with the date you put on the form.
- Request, in writing, a copy of any and all diagnostic notes taken by the appraiser during the conference, even recordings used to score your observation.
- Organize the information you need to share with your appraiser at the conference.
During the conference
- Ask about any indicators/domains where you received a rating less than what you expected – if the appraiser mentions a specific part of the lesson, then ask him/her to show you in the diagnostic notes what was noted at that time. Offer your support/documentation.
- If the appraiser didn’t take notes but relied on a checklist, ask why notes weren’t taken. Ask how and when the indicators were checked off-during the observation or did the appraiser rely on memory once the observation was over.
- Ask the appraiser what she or he would have done to demonstrate evidence of the indicators at a higher level during the lesson.
- Be prepared to offer any documentation that may counter the rating given by the appraiser.
- If you believe your ratings should be changed, submit your reasons in writing. If you need help drafting this, please contact the TSTA Help Center at 1-800-324-8782.
- If you believe you need to file a grievance, please contact the TSTA Help Center at 1-800-324-8782. Grievances must be filed in accordance with local policy, either DGBA [LOCAL] or DNA [LOCAL].
After the post-observation conference
- Refine your notes from the meeting, jotting down additional questions for which you need answers.
- Request copies of any and all notes taken by your appraiser relative to the post-observation conference.
- If you are working with the TSTA Help Center, please contact them and provide any information it may deem relevant to your rebuttal or grievance.
- Submit a Memorandum of Understanding clarifying your take on the meeting (this is not the same as a rebuttal).
