Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching Sees Record Growth as States and Districts Redefine Teacher Evaluation
New Jersey most recent state to adopt research-based tool for systematic and scalable observations of instructional practice
SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The widely-used and research-proven Framework for Teaching (FFT), created by Charlotte Danielson, marks its 15th anniversary with significant growth in states and school districts nationwide, most recently being chosen by the New Jersey State Department of Education as an approved model for teacher evaluation in New Jersey. The FFT is a research-based tool used as the basis for teacher evaluation systems in thousands of schools nationwide and overseas. By implementing the FFT, schools ensure a consistent process for evaluating teacher effectiveness that is based on a solid foundation of research and demonstrated to be strongly correlated to student growth.
In addition to New Jersey, the FFT is the default teacher evaluation framework in Illinois; adopted statewide in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho and South Dakota; approved in Florida, and Washington; and, the only recommended framework for classroom observations in the schools and networks in New York City. In addition to statewide adoptions, the FFT has already been adopted by hundreds of districts in other states. These districts include Los Angeles Unified School District, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools and 14 other districts throughout the state of Florida.
"The overarching goal of the Framework for Teaching is to help teachers improve their practice while creating a common language around instructional improvement during the mentoring, coaching, professional development and teacher evaluation processes," said Charlotte Danielson. "To help facilitate the implementation and ongoing use of the FFT, the Danielson Group offers fully developed training programs for teachers, mentors, coaches, and evaluators."
To further facilitate the effective adoption of the Framework for Teaching, Charlotte Danielson has entered into a partnership with Teachscape, the leader in delivering web-based professional learning content, innovative technologies, and expert services to improve teaching practice. Together they are developing a set of teacher evaluation tools which enhance professional learning based on the FFT. The partnership is focused on developing tools which enable fair and reliable evaluation, actively engage teachers in the process and train evaluators to conduct reliable and accurate evaluations.
The FFT was recently embedded into Teachscape Reflect, the first solution to combine state-of-the-art 360-degree video capture hardware and online software, to further enhance the professional learning process by providing educators with a research-based framework against which classroom videos can be evaluated. Educators can use the FFT, in conjunction with Teachscape Reflect, for formative assessments of teaching practice or for formalized, summative teacher evaluation.
"The integration of the FFT with Teachscape Reflect has improved the way that our technology can be used in the classroom," said Mark Atkinson, founder and chief strategist of Teachscape. "Crafting a common language for evaluating teaching practice is at the heart of our incorporation of the FFT into Reflect. Now educators, coaches and mentors can tag classroom video with references to the frameworks which is a powerful tool in the evaluation of instructional practices."
More Teachscape products are scheduled for release this fall, including the Danielson Proficiency System, which is based on the FFT and helps districts and states ensure inter-rater reliability and fair evaluations. Developed in partnership with Charlotte Danielson and ETS, the evaluator training, practice videos, and proficiency test provide districts with a rigorous and robust research-based tool to certify evaluators.
To learn more about The Framework for Teaching, visit www.danielsongroup.org.
About Charlotte Danielson
Charlotte Danielson is an internationally-recognized expert in the area of teacher effectiveness, specializing in the design of teacher evaluation systems that, while ensuring teacher quality, also promote professional learning. She advises State Education Departments and National Ministries and Departments of Education, both in the United States and overseas. She is frequently a keynote speaker at national and international conferences and is as a policy consultant to legislatures and administrative bodies.
Ms. Danielson's many publications range from defining good teaching ("Enhancing Professional Practice: a framework for teaching," 2007), to organizing schools for student success ("Enhancing Student Achievement: a framework for school improvement," 2002), to teacher leadership ("Teacher Leadership that Strengthens the Profession," 2006), to professional conversations ("Talk about Teaching! Conducting Professional Conversations," 2009), to numerous practical instruments and training programs (both onsite and online) to assist practitioners in implementing her ideas. For more information on Ms. Danielson and her work, visit the Danielson Group at http://www.danielsongroup.org/index.htm.
About Teachscape
Teachscape uniquely combines innovative technology, engaging content and expert services to develop great teachers. From its Classroom Walkthrough technology, to its powerful web-based content delivery platform, to its online masters programs, Teachscape's award-winning products and services have been inspired by its dedication to sparking transformative change in teaching practice. Since 1999, Teachscape has worked with schools and school districts, charter networks, archdioceses, universities and state education departments to measurably and continuously improve the effectiveness of teachers and instructional leaders to produce gains in student achievement. Teachscape's partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford University, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Charlotte Danielson to help shape its vision, its products, and its strategies. To learn more about Teachscape and its complete collection of professional development offerings, go to http://www.teachscape.com.
SOURCE Teachscape
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