The Alabama State Department of Education described a new statewide teacher observation system built with Cognia and aligned to the Alabama Core Teaching Standards. Department presenters said the tool, field-tested across the state, will begin phased implementation in January with full deployment in 2022.

The department's model: the new observation tool uses five dimensions  culture and climate, learning essentials, agency, learning environment and relationships  scored on a four-point forced-choice scale. Observations are intended to be formative: scores inform individualized professional development rather than serve as punitive summative evaluations. Department staff said principals and trained observers will conduct 20-minute minimum observations and provide follow-up coaching.

Why it matters: the observation scores will be combined with academic growth measures required under federal law to identify disparities and to target state and local professional development funding. Department staff said the tool is designed to help principals identify specific instructional weaknesses and provide prescriptive training to teachers and districts.

Key features and timeline
- Cognia partnership and field testing: the department worked with Cognia to design and pilot the tool; field testing involved more than 120 observers and a wide cross-section of schools and instructional modes (in-person and remote).
- Alignment: presenters said the tool maps to the Alabama Core Teaching Standards and existing state evaluation architecture.
- Training model: a train-the-trainer program will certify roughly 30 department trainers in three-day sessions; those trainers will then deliver regional in-service center training (11 centers statewide). The department plans to begin classroom observation rollouts in January and to fully implement the tool statewide in 2022.
- Platform and records: the observation tool will be integrated into the department's AIM identity-management portal and will co-exist with the department's existing Educate Alabama and TE LEAD records. Department staff emphasized data archiving and accessibility for principals and superintendents.

Formative use and appeals
Department staff repeatedly emphasized the tool's formative intention. "This score ... will not be used for personnel or employee evaluation," a presenter said. Board members asked about appeal mechanisms. Presenters replied principals and supervisors will be expected to offer additional observations and follow-up when teachers contest results; the department said a re-observation and local appeal practice will be available.

Quotes (from the meeting record)
- "The observation tool will be used...to determine how well teachers are doing in our schools," said Dr. Daniel Boyd, describing Cognia's role and the move away from prior systems.
- "These observations are strictly for formative purposes, not for summative," presenters told the board; a training-and-appeal process was described to allow re-observation on request.

Ending
The board heard the presentation and asked clarifying questions about scope (the department said the tool is intended for classroom teachers and career-technology teachers, not library staff or principals) and local implementation. Department staff said they would proceed with regional trainer certification this summer and provide district-level rollout schedules ahead of January implementation.