In 2010, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA), which changed how teachers’ and principals’ performance is measured in the state. The new evaluation systems in Illinois school districts will combine multiple measures of student growth and professional practice. The evaluations will be based on standards of effective teaching, with evaluators trained and prequalified to conduct observations, collect evidence, and provide helpful feedback in a timely way. Hand-in-hand with the new evaluations, school systems will be expected to strengthen their professional development offerings so that educators get the support they need to help their students improve.
Approved pre-qualifications for evaluators
As of January 1, 2019, the ISBE-Approved Pre-Qualification Training for Teacher and Principal Evaluators is being offered through the Illinois Administrators’ Academy process by utilizing Administrators’ Academy #2000 (Illinois Performance Evaluation – Principal Evaluation Training) and Administrators’ Academy #2001 (Illinois Performance Evaluation – Teacher Evaluation Training).
Individuals interested in becoming legally qualified to conduct evaluations of certified personnel must successfully complete the respective Administrator Academy course(s) as outlined above. For additional information regarding registration and content of these courses, please contact your Regional Office of Education, Intermediate Service Center, or one of the following organizations: Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Education Association, or Illinois Federation of Teachers.
GENERAL GUIDANCE
- Initial Teaching Evaluation Academy
- Education Reform in Illinois – ISBE Non-Regulatory Guidance on the Performance Evaluation Reform Act and Senate Bill 7
- Guidebook on Implementing the Student Growth Component in Teacher and Principal Evaluation Systems
- Guidance on Creating a Summative Rating in Teacher Evaluation Systems
- Model Teacher Evaluation System – Creating a Summative Rating
- Guidance on Collecting Evidence of Teacher Practice Not Observable During Classroom Observations in Teacher Evaluation Systems
- Model Teacher Evaluation System – Measuring Student Growth Using Type III Assessments
- Guidance on Peer Evaluation in Teacher Evaluation Systems in Illinois
TEACHERS GUIDANCE
- Guidebook on Student Learning Objectives for Type III Assessments
- Guidance on Creating Operating Guidelines for Student Growth Models in Teacher Evaluation Systems
- Student Learning Objective Template
- Guidance on Building Teacher Evaluation Systems for Teachers of Students With Disabilities, English Learners, and Early Childhood Students
ADMINISTRATORS GUIDANCE
- PEAC District Evaluation Data Guidance
- Guidance on Assistant Principal Performance Evaluation in Illinois
- Guidance on Needs Improvement Rating in Teacher Evaluation Systems in Illinois
- Guidance Regarding Evaluating Teacher Practice and Understanding Summative Ratings
- Guidance on District Decision Making
- Guidance on Using Illinois 5Essentials Survey Data in Principal Evaluation
- Guidance on Alignment of Three Factors in Principal Evaluation
- Guidance on Measuring Student Growth for First-Year Principals in Principal Evaluation Systems
- Guidance on Teacher Evaluation Systems for Beginning (Novice) Teachers in Illinois
- Student Learning Objective Template
- Guidance on Building Teacher Evaluation Systems for Teachers of Students With Disabilities, English Learners, and Early Childhood Students
- Guidance: Recommendations for Supporting Evaluators of Teachers, Principals, and Assistant Principals
JOINT COMMITTEES GUIDANCE
- Guidance on District Decision Making
- Guidance on Creating Operating Guidelines for Student Growth Models in Teacher Evaluation Systems
- Guidance Regarding Evaluating Teacher Practice and Understanding Summative Ratings
SCHOOL BOARDS GUIDANCE
DISTRICT GUIDANCE
The resources below explain the policy and process for mandated employee evaluations.
- March 9, 2016: Employee Evaluations Webinar (18:41)
- This webinar gives an in-depth look at the school code that mandates employee evaluations, as well as explaining what scoring methodology is used, and how the information is entered into Employment Information System (EIS).
- March 9, 2016: Employee Evaluations Webinar Questions and Answers
- This document answers questions asked during the March 9, 2016 Employee Evaluations webinar.
- Entering Employee Evaluations: A How-To Guide
- This document provides step-by-step technical instruction on how to access Employment Information System and enter evaluations, both individually and using batch templates.
