6A-5.030. District Instructional Personnel and School Administrator Evaluation Systems  


Effective on Tuesday, November 21, 2023
  • 1(1) The purpose of this rule is to set forth the requirements for the annual evaluation of instructional personnel and school administrators pursuant 24to 25Section 261012.34, 27F.S., 28by establishing 30criteria and 32implementing 33procedures for the school district systems; 39delineating the responsibilities of the school district and Department of Education (Department); setting forth submission, 54review and 56approval 57criteria; 58and 59prescribing 60reporting 61and monitoring 63requirements.

    64(2) Definitions. The following definitions, listed alphabetically, shall be used in this rule and incorporated documents:

    80(a) “Assessments” means the methods or tools used to evaluate, measure, and document student performance and growth.

    97(b) “Contemporary 99research” 100means 101professional 102research 103studies 104that 105provide evidence 107of 108the 109impact 110of 111instructional 112practice 113and 114instructional 115leadership. 116Research 117findings 118are 119considered 120“contemporary” when 122conducted 123within 124the 125last 126ten (10) 128years 129or 130where 131the 132continued 133validity 134of 135less 136recent 137findings 138is 139supported 140by 141research 142conducted 143within 144the 145last 146ten 147(10) 148years.

    149(c) “Descriptors” means the role-based requirements of school administrators to demonstrate mastery of each of the Florida Educational Leadership Standards 169or the requirements of instructional personnel to demonstrate mastery of each of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.

    186(d) “Florida Educator Accomplished Practices” or “FEAP” means the six (6) practices, including the descriptors within, described in subsection 2056A-5.065(2), 206F.A.C., which is hereby incorporated by reference (214http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16026216). 217A copy of Rule 2216A-5.065, 222F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

    241(e) “Florida Educational Leadership Standards” or “FELS” means the eight (8) practices, including all descriptors, described in Rule 2596A-5.080, 260F.A.C., which is hereby incorporated by reference (268http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16027270). A copy of Rule 2756A-5.080, 276F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

    295(f) An 297“indicator” 298is 299a 300description 301of 302a 303specific 304behavior 305or 306strategy.

    307(g) “Instructional personnel” means instructional personnel as defined in Sections 3171012.01(2)(a)-318(d), F.S., excluding substitute teachers.

    323(h) “Newly 325hired 326by 327the 328district” 329means 330the 331first 332calendar 333year 334in 335which 336classroom teachers 338are 339employed 340by 341the school 343district 344in 345a 346full-time 347instructional 348position. 349Such 350personnel 351are 352“newly 353hired” 354for 355their 356first 357year 358of 359employment 360in a 362district 363regardless 364of 365their 366prior 367work 368experience 369elsewhere 370or 371in 372the 373employing 374school 375district.

    376(i) “Observation” 378means 379the 380monitoring 381actions 382in 383evaluation 384systems 385that 386contribute 387evidence 388of 389performance 390or 391the 392impact 393of 394performance 395on 396others. 397Evidence 398collected 399through 400observation 401contributes 402to 403the 404summative 405evaluation 406rating 407and 408may 409be 410used 411for 412formative 413feedback. 414District evaluation systems 417may 418provide that observations are 422formal 423or 424informal; 425announced 426or 427unannounced; 428and whether they are 432conducted 433by 434supervisors, 435mentors, 436or 437peers 438who 439are 440trained 441in 442the 443evaluation 444system. 445The 446length 447of 448time 449of 450an 451observation 452event 453and 454the 455type 456of 457school 458activity 459observed 460may 461vary 462and is 464determined 465by 466the 467evidence 468of 469practice 470that 471is 472sought.

    473(j) 474“Performance standards” are the statements or cut points establishing how well individuals must perform within each criterion of the evaluation – performance of students, instructional practice or instructional leadership, and other indicators of performance – to achieve the four designated performance levels516.

    517(k) “Research-based 519framework” 520means 521an 522approach 523used 524in 525an 526evaluation 527system 528to 529assess 530and 531provide 532feedback 533on 534either 535instructional 536practice 537or 538instructional 539leadership. 540A 541research-based 542framework 543is 544based 545on 546contemporary 547research 548and 549includes 550implementation 551procedures designed 553to 554support 555the 556successful 557use 558of 559the 560framework 561for 562evaluation 563and 564continuous 565improvement.

    566(l) “Rubric” means a tool or set of indicators 575of 576practice 577used 578to 579distinguish 580among 581proficiency levels 583or 584classify 585performance.

    586(m) “School administrator” means school administrator as defined in Section 5961012.01(3)(c), F.S.

    598(n) “Substantial revisions” means revisions other than 605editing for grammar, name changes, or year updates.

    613(o) “Summative evaluation rating” means 618the 619final, 620combined 621rating 622of 623performance 624for 625an 626annual 627evaluation that includes student performance, instructional practice or instructional leadership, and, if applicable, other indicators of performance. 644There 645are 646four (4) 648performance 649levels: 650highly 651effective; 652effective; 653needs 654improvement, 655or, 656for 657teachers 658in 659the 660first 661three 662(3) 663years 664of 665employment, 666developing; 667and 668unsatisfactory.

    669(p) “Value-added model” or “VAM” means a statistical model used for the purpose of determining an individual teacher’s or school administrator’s contribution to student learning, as established in Rule 6986A-5.0411, 699F.A.C., which is hereby incorporated by reference (707http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16028709). 710A copy of Rule 7146A-5.0411, 715F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

    734(3) Evaluation 736Systems Requirements. 738To 739receive 740approval 741of 742its 743evaluation 744systems, 745the school 747district 748must 749provide the following:

    752(a) Evaluation System Overview. For instructional personnel and school administrators, the purpose and a summary of the evaluation system.

    771(b) Evaluation Procedures. For instructional personnel and school administrators, on an annual basis:

    7841. When and how personnel are informed of the criteria, data sources, methodologies, and procedures associated with the evaluation process;

    8042. When and how many observations take place; and,

    8133. When and how many summative evaluations are conducted.

    822(c) Evaluation Criteria.

    8251. Performance 827of 828Students. For instructional personnel and school administrators:

    835a. 836Percentage 837of 838the 839evaluation 840based 841on 842student 843performance; and,

    845b. Description of the step-by-step calculation for determining the student performance rating, including performance standards for differentiating performance.

    8632. Instructional 865Practice. For instructional personnel:

    869a. 870Percentage 871of 872the 873evaluation 874based 875on 876instructional practice; and,

    879b. Description of the step-by-step calculation for determining the instructional practice rating for classroom and non-classroom instructional personnel, including performance standards for differentiating performance.

    9033. Instructional 905Leadership. For school administrators:

    909a. Percentage of the evaluation based on instructional leadership; and,

    919b. 920Description of the step-by-step calculation for determining the instructional leadership rating for school administrators, including performance standards for differentiating performance.

    9404. Other Indicators of Performance. For instructional personnel and school administrators, 951if 952the school 954district 955chooses 956to 957include 958such additional indicators:

    961a. Percentage 963of 964the 965evaluation 966based 967on 968other 969indicators of performance;

    972b. D974escription of the additional performance indicators; and,

    981c. Description of the step-by-step calculation for determining the other indicators of performance rating, including performance standards for differentiating performance.

    10015. Summative 1003Evaluation 1004Rating.

    1005a. For instructional personnel:

    1009(I) Description of the step-by-step calculation for determining the summative rating; and,

    1021(II). Sample summative rating calculations to illustrate how a second grade teacher and a ninth grade English language arts teacher can earn a highly effective and an unsatisfactory summative performance rating.

    1052b. For school administrators:

    1056(I) Description of the step-by-step calculation for determining the summative rating; and,

    1068(II) Sample summative rating calculations to illustrate how an elementary principal and a high school assistant principal can earn a highly effective and an unsatisfactory summative performance rating respectively.

    1097(d) Additional requirements.

    11001. For instructional personnel and school administrators:

    1107a. Confirmation that the evaluation system framework is based on sound educational principles and contemporary research in effective educational practices.

    1127b. Confirmation that the school district provides training programs and has processes that ensure:

    1141c. Acknowledgment that the evaluation procedures established by the district school superintendent set the standards of service to be offered to the public within the meaning of Section 1169447.209, F.S., 1171and are not subject to mandatory collective bargaining.

    1179(I) Employees subject to an evaluation system are informed of the evaluation criteria, data sources, methodologies, and procedures associated with the evaluation before the evaluation takes place; and,

    1207(II) Individuals with evaluation responsibilities and those who provide input toward evaluations understand the proper use of the evaluation criteria and procedures;

    1229d. Confirmation that the school district evaluation procedures comply with the following:

    1241(I) The evaluator 1244is 1245the individual 1247responsible for supervising the employee, and the evaluator is authorized to consider input from other personnel trained on the evaluation system;

    1268(II) 1269The evaluator provides timely feedback to the employee that supports the improvement of professional skills;

    1284(III) The evaluator submits a written report to the employee no later than ten (10) days after the evaluation takes place;

    1305(IV) The evaluator discusses the written evaluation report with the employee;

    1316(V) The employee has the right to initiate a written response to the evaluation and the response becomes a permanent attachment to his or her personnel file;

    1343(VI) The evaluator submits a written report of the evaluation to the district school superintendent for the purpose of reviewing the employee’s contract; and,

    1367(VII) The evaluator may amend an evaluation based upon assessment data from the current school year if the data becomes available within ninety (90) days after the close of the school year.

    1399e. Confirmation that the school district has procedures for the use of evaluation results to inform the planning of professional development, and the learning of school and district improvement plans.

    1429f. Confirmation that the school district ensures personnel who have been evaluated as less than effective are required to participate in specific professional learning programs.

    1454g. Confirmation that the school district has procedures for the notification of unsatisfactory performance that comply with the requirements outlined in Section 14761012.34(4), F.S.

    1478h. Confirmation that the district school superintendent annually notifies the Department of Education of any personnel who receive two (2) consecutive unsatisfactory evaluation ratings, or are given written notice by the school district of intent to terminate or not renew their employment, as outlined in Section 15241012.34(5), F.S. 1526This reporting shall be completed in accordance with the FDOE Information Database Requirements: Volume II – Automated Staff Information System, 1546as established in Rule 15506A-1.0014, 1551F.A.C., which is hereby incorporated by reference (1559http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-160291561). 1562A copy of Rule 15666A-1.0014, 1567F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

    1586i. Confirmation that the school district has a process for annually monitoring its evaluation system that enables it to determine 1606the 1607following:

    1608(I) Compliance with the requirements of Section 16151012.34, F.S., 1617and this rule;

    1620(II) Evaluators’ understanding of the proper use of evaluation criteria and procedures, including evaluator accuracy and inter-rater reliability;

    1638(III) Evaluators provide necessary and timely feedback 1645to 1646employees 1647being 1648evaluated;

    1649(IV) Evaluators follow district policies and procedures in 1657the 1658implementation 1659of 1660evaluation 1661system(s);

    1662(V) Use 1664of 1665evaluation 1666data 1667to 1668identify 1669individual 1670professional 1671learning; and,

    1673(VI) Use 1675of 1676evaluation 1677data 1678to 1679inform 1680school 1681and 1682district 1683improvement 1684plans.

    16852. For instructional personnel:

    1689a. Confirmation that the observation 1694instrument(s) 1695to be used for classroom teachers include 1702indicators 1703based 1704on 1705each 1706of 1707t1708he 1709FEAP.

    1710b. Confirmation that the observation 1715instrument(s) 1716to be used for non-classroom instructional personnel include 1724indicators 1725based 1726on 1727t1728he 1729FEAP, and may include specific job expectations related to student support.

    1740c. Confirmation that the school district provides instructional personnel the opportunity to review their class rosters for accuracy and to correct any mistakes.

    1763d. Confirmation that the district school superintendent annually reports accurate class rosters for the purpose of calculating district and statewide student performance, and the evaluation results of instructional personnel.

    1792e. Confirmation that the school district provides opportunities for parents to provide input into performance evaluations, when the school district determines such input is appropriate.

    1817f. Confirmation that the school district ensures all instructional personnel, classroom and non-classroom, are evaluated at least once a year, and classroom teachers newly hired by the school district are observed and evaluated at least twice in the first year of 1858teaching in the school district.

    1863g. Acknowledgment that the instructional practice evaluation procedures and criteria under Section 18751012.34, F.S., 1877do not preclude a school administrator from visiting and observing classroom teachers throughout the school year for the purposes of providing mentorship, training, instructional feedback, or professional learning.

    1905h. Confirmation that the district’s system identifies teaching fields for which special evaluation procedures or criteria are necessary, if applicable.

    19253. For school administrators:

    1929a. Confirmation that the observation instrument(s) to be used for school administrators include indicators based on each set of descriptors of the FELS.

    1952b. Confirmation that the school district ensures all school administrators are evaluated at least once a year.

    1969c. Confirmation that the school district provides opportunities for parents and instructional personnel to provide input into performance evaluations, when the school district determines such input is appropriate.

    1997(e) Additional Documentation.

    20001. For instructional personnel:

    2004a. Crosswalk 2006from 2007the school 2009district’s evaluation 2011framework to 2013each 2014of 2015the 2016FEAP; and,

    2018b. Observation 2020rubric2021(s) 2022to be used for classroom and non-classroom teachers that include 2032indicators 2033based 2034on 2035each 2036of 2037t2038he 2039FEAP.

    20402. For school administrators:

    2044a2045. Crosswalk 2047from 2048the school 2050district’s 2051evaluation 2052framework 2053to each of 2056the 2057FELS; and,

    2059b. Observation 2061rubric2062(s) 2063to be used for school principals and assistant principals 2072that 2073include 2074indicators 2075based 2076on 2077each 2078of the role-specific descriptors 2082of 2083the 2084FELS 2085and other leadership practices that result in student learning growth, as identified by the school district.

    21013. For instructional personnel and school administrators:

    2108a. List of the assessments and performance standards that will apply to the assessment results to be used for calculating the performance of students; and,

    2133b. Summative evaluation form(s).

    2137(4) Submission 2139Process.

    2140(a) School districts 2143shall 2144submit 2145an 2146evaluation 2147system 2148to the Department 2151for 2152review 2153and 2154approval 2155within fifteen (15) days of the system being revised and prior to school board approval2170. Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, school districts shall submit a revised system on the forms outlined in paragraph (4)(b) of this rule.

    2194(b) Instructional personnel evaluation 2198systems 2199shall 2200be 2201submitted using the 2204Instructional 2205Evaluation 2206System 2207Template, Form IEST-2023, and school administrator evaluation systems shall be submitted using the 2220Administrative 2221Evaluation 2222System 2223Template, 2224Form AEST-20232226.

    2227(c) Evaluation systems 2230and all required supporting documentation 2235shall 2236be 2237submitted 2238electronically 2239to 2240DistrictEvalSysEQ@fldoe.org.

    2241(5) Review and 2244Approval 2245Process. The review and approval process is a part of the Department’s process for monitoring evaluation systems pursuant to Sections 22651012.34(1)(b) 2266and (8), F.S. Following the submission of an evaluation system:

    2276(a) The 2278Department 2279shall 2280review 2281the form and 2284documentation 2285to 2286determine 2287whether 2288the school 2290district 2291has 2292submitted 2293a 2294complete 2295evaluation 2296system 2297with 2298the 2299content required by subsection (3) of this rule, and in the format required by subsection (4) of this rule.

    2318(b) The 2320Department 2321shall, within thirty (30) days from the receipt of the evaluation system, 2333provide 2334written 2335notification to the school district 2340that 2341identifies 2342omitted 2343elements, 2344or, if there are no omitted elements, 2351that 2352the submission is complete.

    2356(c) 2357The school district shall, within thirty (30) days from the notification provided in paragraph (5)(b) of this rule, address the omitted elements and resubmit the evaluation system to the Department.

    2387(d) The 2389Department 2390shall, within thirty (30) days from the resubmission of the evaluation system, 2402provide 2403written 2404notification 2405to the district school superintendent 2410of 2411the 2412evaluation system 2414approval 2415status. The 2417approval 2418status 2419designations 2420and 2421the 2422effect 2423of 2424these 2425designations 2426are 2427as 2428follows:

    24291. Approved. 2431An 2432evaluation system shall be 2436approved, if the system 2440meets 2441the requirements outlined in 2445subsection 2446(6) 2447of 2448this 2449rule. 2450A 2451school district 2453may 2454implement 2455the 2456evaluation 2457system 2458after 2459receiving 2460notification 2461of 2462Department 2463approval.

    24642. Denied. 2466An 2467evaluation 2468system 2469shall 2470be 2471denied 2472if 2473the 2474system 2475does not 2477meet 2478the 2479requirements 2480outlined in 2482subsection 2483(6) 2484of 2485this 2486rule. 2487The school district shall make revisions to the system, based in part on feedback from the Department, and resubmit the plan to the Department for review and approval; a 2516district 2517may 2518not 2519implement 2520a 2521denied 2522evaluation 2523system2524. Upon request by the school district, the Department shall provide assistance in developing or improving an evaluation system.

    2543(6) Approval Criteria.

    2546(a) An 2548evaluation system shall be 2552approved 2553when the system:

    25561. Is submitted to DistrictEvalSysEQ@fldoe.org;

    25612. Is submitted on the forms 2567required by 2569paragraph 2570(4)(b) 2571of 2572this 2573rule;

    25743. Fulfills the 2577requirements 2578of 2579subsection (3) of this rule; 2584and,

    25854. Is found by the Department to create the conditions necessary to increase student academic performance and learning growth by improving the quality of instructional, administrative, and supervisory services in the school district.

    2618(b) An evaluation system shall maintain its approval designation if it continues to comply with the 2634requirements listed in Section 26381012.34, F.S., 2640and this rule; 2643the school district is implementing the evaluation system as approved by the Department; and any areas of noncompliance identified through the monitoring process outlined in subsection (7) of this rule, are addressed within the Department’s prescribed timeline.

    2680(7) Implementation 2682Monitoring.

    2683In addition to the procedures described in subsection (5) of this rule, the 2696Department 2697shall 2698monitor 2699the school 2701district’s 2702implementation 2703of 2704its approved 2706evaluation 2707systems 2708pursuant to Section 27111012.34(1)(b), F.S.

    2713(a) The Department shall annually select no less than ten (10) percent of school districts to monitor, prioritized based on the following factors: the district percentage of schools receiving a grade of “D” or “F” pursuant to Section 27511008.34, F.S.; 2753the distribution of personnel in each of the four (4) performance levels 2765provided 2766in Section 27681012.34(2)(e), 2769F.S.; findings 2771of evidence of noncompliance with the requirements of Section 27801012.34, F.S., 2782or this rule during monitoring; 2787requests for assistance; and the length of time since the last monitoring event.

    2800(b) The Department shall provide the school district with no less than sixty (60) days’ notice of a monitoring event.

    2820(c) The school district shall, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the notification of monitoring, submit a report to the Department of the results of 2847its 2848annual 2849self-2850monitoring 2851pursuant 2852to sub-sub2854paragraph 2855(3)(d)1.h., 2856during 2857the 2858preceding 2859five 2860(5) 2861years. 2862The 2863report 2864shall 2865include 2866any 2867improvements 2868the school 2870district 2871has 2872made 2873to 2874its 2875evaluation processes 2877as 2878a 2879result 2880of 2881its 2882own 2883monitoring.

    2884(d) The Department shall conduct monitoring of the school district, documenting evidence 2896that the school district is in compliance with the evaluation system requirements listed in Section 29111012.34, F.S., 2913and this rule, and implementing its system as approved.

    2922(e) The Department shall, upon completion of monitoring, provide the school district with a report of the results that identifies 2942any 2943strengths 2944and areas 2946of 2947noncompliance.

    2948(f) 2949The school district shall, upon receipt of the monitoring report, receive no more than sixty (60) days to implement corrective actions to address areas of noncompliance and submit documentation of compliance to the Department.

    2983(8) Forms. The following 2987forms are hereby incorporated by reference:

    2993Instructional Evaluation System Template, Form IEST-2018 (November 2023) and (3003http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-160303005) and Administrative Evaluation System Template, Form AEST-2023 (May 2023) (3016http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-152953018). Copies may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

    3038Rulemaking Authority 30401012.34(8) 30411012.98(9) 3042FS. Law Implemented 30451012.34, 30461012.98 3047FS. History–New 6-19-01, Formerly 30516B-4.010, 3052Amended 9-9-15, 4-30-18, 5-23-23, 8-22-23, 11-21-23.