Race to the Top: States Implementing Teacher and Principal Evaluation Systems Despite Challenges. Report to the Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-13-777
Author: Scott, George A.
Date: 2013-09-00
Type: Reports - Research
Subjects: Teacher Evaluation,Principals,Administrator Evaluation,Educational Legislation,Federal Aid,Federal Legislation,Federal Programs,Educational Change,Educational Improvement,Grants,School Districts,Statewide Planning,Teacher Effectiveness,Administrator Effectiveness,Accountability,Public Agencies,Program Implementation,Educational Objectives,Guidelines,Academic Achievement,Evaluation Methods,Achievement Gains,Pilot Projects,Elementary Secondary Education

The Department of Education (Education) created Race to The Top (RTT) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide incentives for states to reform K-12 education in areas such as improving the lowest performing schools and developing effective teachers and leaders. In 2010, Education awarded 12 states nearly $4 billion in RTT grant funds to spend over 4 years. A state's RTT application and scope of work included the state's plans for development and implementation of teacher and principal evaluation systems by participating school districts. These systems assess teacher and principal effectiveness based on student academic growth and other measures, such as observation of professional practice. Currently, additional states are designing and implementing similar evaluation systems. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review RTT teacher and principal evaluation systems. This report examines: (1) the extent to which the 2010 grantee states have implemented their teacher and principal evaluation systems; (2) the challenges the grantee states have faced in designing and implementing these systems; and (3) how Education has helped grantee states meet their RTT objectives for teacher and principal evaluation systems. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance; analyzed RTT applications and documentation on each state's guidelines for their evaluation systems; and interviewed officials from all 12 states, selected districts, and Education. GAO is not making recommendations in this report. GAO found that by school year 2012-13, 6 of 12 Race to The Top (RTT) states fully implemented their evaluation systems (i.e., for all teachers and principals in all RTT districts). However, their success in fully implementing by the date targeted in their RTT applications varied. Three of these states met their target date while three did not for various reasons, such as needing more time to develop student academic growth measures. The six states that did not fully implement either piloted or partially implemented. The scope of pilots varied. One state piloted to about 14 percent of teachers and principals while another piloted to about 30 percent of teachers. State or district officials in four of the six states expressed some concerns about their readiness for full implementation. The following are appended: (1) Comments from the U.S. Department of Education; and (2) GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments.