Teacher Evaluation
As one of the first states to receive Race to the Top funds, Tennessee voted to include measures of student growth as 35% of the total teacher evaluation process. Of the options made available in the US Dept of Education primer for non-tested grades and subjects (measures of collective performance, developing new measurements, or student learning objectives), the state initially opted to use measures of collective performance (assigning average growth scores from the standardized tests in other subjects) until other measures could be identified. Early in this process, they convened a committee of arts educators to develop an alternative.
Music Teacher Evaluation
The team created a system that allows teachers to collect authentic standards-based student growth evidence using purposeful sampling. This evidence is then submitted for content specific peer review. The TN State Board of Education approved the recommendation of the Fine Arts Growth Measures Committee to allow for an alternate measure of student growth in the arts.
In the News
In January of 2011, the committee met with US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and discussed the alternative growth measures system. Following this meeting, Secretary Duncan referenced this work in a number of speeches and articles. The TN Fine Arts Growth Measures System has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Ed Week, Teaching Music Magazine, and by the Associated Press. Several other states have elected to develop similar models based on the peer review method of measuring student growth.
Resources
You can view more information about the TDOE Fine Arts Growth Measures System Teacher’s Guide and the Tennessee Arts Academy. Tennessee districts interesting in adopting the Fine Arts Growth Measures System should contact Courtney Seiler (Courtney.Seiler@tn.gov) at the Tennessee Department of Education.
Timeline:
| October 2010- January 2011 | The TN First to the Top Fine Arts Growth Measures Committee developed and submitted recommendations to the TN State Department of Education. |
| June 2011 | Eight lead arts teachers met to develop a pilot proposal and exemplar growth measures rubric based on the TN Growth Measures Committee Recommendations. Funding was secured. |
| September 2011 | A group of seven teachers participated in a “beta” version of the pilot to make recommendations based on logistical and philosophical considerations. |
| October 2011-May 2012 | Revisions made and all MCS Arts Teachers piloted the system. Ongoing collaboration with consultants, and teacher training workshops held throughout the year. Meetings with US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and TN Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman. Peer review teams were trained and scored evidence collections. Ultimately, the full report was delivered to the TDOE for review. |
| July 2012 | In anticipation of approval from the TDOE and TN State Board of Education, the Tennessee Arts Academy hosted a weeklong training for district leaders interested in implementing. |
| August 2012 | After the beginning of the school year, the TN State Board of Education approves the Fine Arts Growth Measure as an option for districts seeking individual growth scores for teachers instead of school wide scores. |
| September 2012 | TDOE sent notification to the 33 districts that were trained at the Tennessee Arts Academy regarding options for implementation.The TDOE gauged interest from all districts on who would be interested in piloting for 2013-2014 implementation and received many requests. Meeting at the US Department of Education regarding alternative growth measures for non-tested grades and subjects. |
| December 2012 | The TN Arts Growth Measures Committee approves peer review applications. |
| Spring 2013(Upcoming) |
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| Summer 2013(Upcoming) | Training options available for districts implementing for 2013-14, including the TN Arts Academy. |
| Ongoing | Support for other states interested in developing student growth measures portfolios. |
