Unsatisfactory Evaluations: Idaho

Analysis of Idaho's policies

In Idaho, new legislation eliminated renewable contracts for teachers beginning January 31, 2011. Instead, teachers are placed on Category A and B contracts, and based on the state's new evaluation framework, could face nonrenewal based on their evaluation results. The state does not specify whether a certain number of unsatisfactory evaluations will lead to dismissal or whether teachers will be placed on structured improvement plans for unsatisfactory performance.

Citation

S.B. 1108 Implementation Guidelines for Evaluation Framework http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/teacherEval/implementationGuidelines.htm

Recommendations for Idaho

Require that all teachers who receive unsatisfactory evaluations be placed on improvement plans.
The state should require that teachers who receive even one unsatisfactory evaluation be placed on structured improvement plans. These plans should focus on performance areas that directly connect to student learning and should list noted deficiencies, define specific action steps necessary to address these deficiencies and describe how and when progress will be measured.

Make eligibility for dismissal a consequence of unsatisfactory evaluations.
Idaho's current policy does not articulate clear consequences for unsatisfactory evaluations. The state should strengthen its policy and explicitly require that all teachers who receive two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations or have two unsatisfactory evaluations within five years be formally eligible for dismissal. 

State response to our analysis

Idaho recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.