Professional Development: South Carolina

Retaining Effective Teachers Policy

Goal

The state should require professional development to be based on needs identified through teacher evaluations.

Meets goal
Suggested Citation:
National Council on Teacher Quality. (2011). Professional Development: South Carolina results. State Teacher Policy Database. [Data set].
Retrieved from: https://www.nctq.org/yearbook/state/SC-Professional-Development-9

Analysis of South Carolina's policies

South Carolina requires that all teachers receive oral and written feedback on their overall performance and progress toward achieving goals in their professional growth and development plans. In addition, the state uses a Goal Based Evaluation (GBE) cycle to promote continual professional development for each teacher. The state stipulates that each goal in the GBE "must be aligned with one or more of the ADEPT Performance Standards." Supervisors meet with each teacher for an annual review of performance.

Citation

Recommendations for South Carolina

State response to our analysis

South Carolina recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.

Research rationale

For evidence of the benefits of feedback from evaluation systems, and the potential for professional development surrounding that feedback, see T. Kane et al, "Evaluating Teacher Effectiveness." Education Next. Vol 11, No. 3 (2011); E. Taylor and J. Tyler, "The Effect of Evaluation on Performance: Evidence from Longitudinal Student Achievement Data of Mid-Career Teachers." National Bureau of Economic Research (2011).

Much professional development, particularly those that are not aligned to specific feedback from teacher evaluations, has been found to be ineffective.  For evidence see M. Garet, "Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Impact Study: Findings After the Second Year of Implementation." Institute of Education Sciences (2011).

For additional evidence regarding best practices for professional development, see "The Deliver, Financing, and Assessment of Professional Development in Education: Pre-Service Preparation and In-Service Training." The Finance Project (2003).