Teacher perspectives of the use of student performance data in teacher evaluations

The purpose of this study was to determine how K-12 public school teachers perceive the use of student performance data in teacher evaluations. The proprietary, utility, feasibility, and accuracy standards created by the Joint Committee on Standards for Education Evaluation (JCSEE) served as a framework for the study. An online survey was deployed to a random stratified sample of teachers across the United States. Participants responded to thirty statements using a four-point Likert Scale that ranged from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Participants were also provided an opportunity to list and describe additional items that they favored and feared with respect to using student performance data in teacher evaluations. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to determine the level of teacher agreement on statements. Responses were further analyzed to determine the impact that the following demographic factors had on perceptions: (a) years of teaching experience, (b) teaching in a union and non-union states, (c) teaching a tested and non-tested grades and courses, and (d) teaching in elementary, middle, and high schools. Results indicated a strong level of agreement among teachers on the positive impact that the use of student performance data will have on improving teacher evaluations. Further results indicated that demographic factors played a minimal role in influencing participants\u27 perceptions