Philadelphia’s Teacher Appraisal System lays out a number of features of the current appraisal system used by the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) that keep it from effectively supporting high-quality teaching. District schools rate teacher observations as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory, rather than providing nuance that could make the system more practical; there is an absence of adequate training for administrators in appraisal best practices; the tenure system is unrelated to teacher effectiveness; the termination process is burdensome and problematic; and in general the systems are antiquated and not designed in ways that could make them meaningful tools for teacher and school improvement. The report lays out six areas where change is needed: the appraisal system should be rooted in clear, rigorous, and evidence-based teaching standards; the appraisals should draw on multiple sources of data (rather than being solely based on classroom observation, as is the case in District schools); principals need to be well-supported in implementing a new teacher appraisal system; tenure should be a professional milestone that is earned and rewarded; the appraisal process needs to incorporate teachers as active participants; and the process of teacher termination should not be overly burdensome for principals nor disrespectful to teachers;

Philadelphia’s Teacher Appraisal System: Needs Improvement
Camika Royal , Matthew Tossman
Date: October 2009
Related Publications

Publication
The Need for More Teachers of Color
Leana Cabral, Mary Eddins, David Lapp, Saxon Nelson

Publication
Addressing Structural Barriers to High School Graduation: Examining the Impacts of the Éxito program at Kensington Creative and Performing Arts
Molly Pileggi, Dae Y. Kim

Publication
FAQ: Superintendents in Pennsylvania School Districts
Mary Eddins, Leana Cabral, David Lapp, Molly Pileggi, Saxon Nelson, Ammani Ahmad-Khan

Publication
Costs And Quality in Virtual/Hybrid Summer Youth Employment Programming
Jill Pierce, Lindsey Liu

Publication
Access to Experienced Teachers in Allegheny County
Mary Eddins

Publication
Teacher Mobility in Allegheny County, 2014-15 through 2019-20
Mary Eddins, Molly Pileggi

Publication
Final Report: Evaluation of the Aspiring to Educate Philadelphia Pilot

Publication
Where Do We Go Next? Youth Insights on the High School Experience During a Year of Historic Upheaval
Molly Pileggi, Kri Burkander, Justis Freeman, Sean K. Flanagan, Max Margolius, Liz Glaser, Monika Kincheloe

Publication
All Learning Counts Policy Toolkit
Virginia Hunter, Victoria Ballerini, Daniel Kent, Shanell Hagood, Montrell Sanders, Matthew Rigsby

Publication
Students Experiencing Homelessness in Allegheny County
Anna Shaw-Amoah
Publication
State of Student Success Funding During COVID-19
Daniel Kent, Kasey Meehan
Publication
State of Promise Programs During COVID-19
Daniel Kent, Kasey Meehan