Tennessee DOE outlines evaluation flexibility, deadlines and LEA contact requirements

A Tennessee Department of Education staff member told local education agency contacts that the department’s evaluation flexibility survey will open in TNCompass in May and close in June and that districts and charter schools must enter their evaluation options and have them signed by their superintendent.

The information matters because the choices determine which evaluation models, observation pacing rules and growth measures will apply for the coming school year. The presenter emphasized timelines and the limited flexibility available to districts versus charters.

The presenter said districts and charters may choose among state‑board‑approved observation models and growth measures for non‑tested teachers. Districts must implement the TEAM model or another state board‑approved model; charter schools may use any approved model or a charter‑specific, state board‑approved model. District pacing for observations may be set using either the prior year’s level of effectiveness (LOE) or the prior year’s individual growth score where…