This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) told the State Board of Education that it is preparing to publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin its rating tool for teacher effectiveness in the coming weeks. The tool includes the classroom teacher rating form and instructions. Act 82 of 2012 requires PDE to publish the rating tool by June 30 on a fast-track process that exempts it from the regulatory review requirements and review by the state attorney general. However, the document must be approved by the governor’s office of general counsel, budget office and policy office prior to publication. Electronic versions of the tool will be available on PDE’s web site that will compute the rating calculations for school districts; training and information will be made available through PDE’s SAS section of the web site.

Source: PSBA Legislative Report, May 9, 2013.