Legal
The New TKES System Evaluates Teachers Based on 10 Detailed Criteria By Matthew Pence, Staff Attorney
H
ouse Bill 244, passed by the 2013 Georgia legislature, mandates that beginning in the 2014-15 school year, all Georgia teachers will be evaluated under the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System. This represents a huge change for both teachers and administrators. TKES began as part of Georgia’s involvement in the United States Department of Education’s Race to the Top Initiative. During 201213 school year, 26 Georgia school systems piloted the program. The PAGE Legal Department has fielded many calls from members regarding the new evaluation process. Implementing a new, complex evaluation instrument across the state will not be without glitches, and it is imperative that teachers begin to acquaint themselves now with the new system. Under the Georgia Teacher Evaluation Program, two instruments
28 PAGE ONE
were used: the Georgia Teacher Observation Instrument and the Georgia Teacher Duties and Responsibilities Instrument. Some systems even used local evaluation tools. Going forward, all teachers in Georgia will be evaluated on their level of effectiveness as it relates to 10 specific factors under TKES. The Teacher Keys Effectiveness System will change both how the teacher is observed and the evidence the evaluator uses to determine the level of performance. TKES includes the Teacher Assessment on Performance Standards (TAPS), and this component accounts for 50 percent of the evaluation. Student performance data accounts for the other 50 percent. A later issue of PAGE ONE will explain the student performance portion in depth. During the TAPS process, each teacher will receive a minimum of two 30-minute formative observations and four 10-minute walk
August/September 2013
