Research Database

Vergara v. California Hull, Jim. “Trends in Teacher Evaluation: How states are measuring teacher performance.” The Center for Public Education (October 2013).

Teacher Evaluations October 1, 2013

This study summarizes changes to state policies on teacher evaluations since 2009.

Vergara v. California Sporte, Susan, W. David Stevens, Kaleen Healey, Jennie Jiang and Holly Hart. “Teacher Evaluation in Practice: Implementing Chicago’s Reach Students.” The University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research (September, 2013).

Teacher Evaluations September 1, 2013

This report focuses on the perceptions and experiences of teachers and administrators during the first year of REACH implementation, which was in many ways a particularly demanding year. These experiences can be helpful to CPS and to other districts across the country as they work to restructure and transform teacher evaluation.

Vergara v. California Kent, Michael, Dennis Li, and Chris Frank. “Teacher Evaluation, Development, and Dismissal in California.” Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (May 2013).

Teacher Evaluations May 15, 2013

This policy brief examines the accuracy of teacher performance evaluations and finds a “measurement gap” indicating that administrators are under reporting low-performing teachers.

Vergara v. California “Improving Teacher Evaluation in California.” The Education Trust-West and Teach Plus (2011).

Teacher Evaluations January 1, 2011

This report details the current flaws in teacher evaluation systems nationally. It spotlights new models of teacher evaluation in California, and ways teachers themselves can advocate for change at the school, district, and state levels.

Vergara v. California “Great Expectations: Teachers’ Views on Elevating the Teaching Profession.” Teach Plus (November 2012).

Teacher Evaluations November 8, 2012

This summary comes from a 2012 survey examining new teacher and veteran teacher attitudes on a number of issues within three thematic areas: working conditions, standards and accountability, and teacher effectiveness and evaluation.

Vergara v. California Darling-Hammond, Linda. “Evaluating Teacher Effectiveness: How Teacher Performance Assessments Can Measure and Improve Teaching.” Center for American Progress (October 2010).

Teacher Evaluations October 1, 2010

This report takes a new approach to the question of how to measure teacher effectiveness by describing the ways in which assessments of teacher performance for licensing and certification can both reflect and predict teachers’ success.

Vergara v. California “Evaluating Teachers: The Important Role of Value-Added.” Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings (November 2010).

Teacher Evaluations November 17, 2010

This report discusses the reliability of value-added metrics, and though it suggests early feedback is promising, it includes suggestions to make the process of using student improvement data more accurate.

Vergara v. California “Teacher Evaluation in Tennessee: A Report on Year 1 Implementation.” Tennessee Department of Education (July 2012).

Teacher Evaluations July 1, 2012

This case study looks at the effectiveness of Tennessee’s recent policy change to become one of the first states in the country to implement a comprehensive, student outcomes-based, statewide educator evaluation system. It shows that The 2011-12 school year saw tremendous progress for public education in Tennessee, as measured by the most significant outcome: student achievement. Test scores improved, in aggregate, at a faster rate than any previously measured year. Furthermore, administrators have consistently noted that having school-wide value-added scores has led to increased collaboration among teachers and a higher emphasis on academic standards in all subjects.

Vergara v. California “Breaking the Stalemate: LA Teachers Take on Teacher Evaluation.” Educators 4 Excellence (June 2012).

Teacher Evaluations June 1, 2012

This research lists suggestions for teacher evaluations including the formulation of a feedback system to incorporate information from teachers, students, and parents.