Teachscape Teams with Charlotte Danielson and ETS to Deliver First-of-its-kind Online System for Teacher Evaluations

New Framework for Teaching Proficiency System helps observers make reliable, consistent, and defensible judgments of teaching practice

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With an increasing emphasis on performance-based teacher evaluation systems, districts need to adequately prepare classroom observers to conduct fair, accurate, reliable and defensible assessments of teacher practice. Teachscape's new Framework for Teaching Proficiency System, developed in collaboration with Charlotte Danielson and the Educational Testing Service (ETS), and based in part on the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a complete online solution based on Danielson's research-based Framework for Teaching (FFT) for improving and assessing the ability of observers.

"Conducting teacher observations is a multifaceted task that requires trained, knowledgeable observers who possess a clear understanding of observation protocols and can reliably distinguish differences in teaching practice," said Charlotte Danielson. "We need to train observers so teachers, schools, and districts receive consistent and valid feedback on teaching practices, and the Framework for Teaching Proficiency System helps to ensure this happens."

The Framework for Teaching Proficiency System offers three rigorous and robust components (Observer Training, Scoring Practice, and a Proficiency Test), and includes more than 15 hours of self-paced online training and over 100 master-scored videos covering all proficiency ranges for grades K-12.  

"The Framework for Teaching Proficiency System currently is the only training and testing system designed specifically to address the need for reliable observers," said Mark Atkinson, founder and chief strategist of Teachscape. "Our relationship with Charlotte Danielson and ETS, as well as our work for the MET Project, has allowed us to address the need for districts to provide a robust and continuous approach to teacher improvement."  

When the system is coupled with the latest additions to Teachscape's observation product family (Teachscape Reflect Live, Teachscape Reflect Video and Teachscape Walk), educators are provided with a comprehensive set of classroom observation and evaluation tools that support professional growth, strengthen teaching practice, and provide a platform for scalable, systematic, and consistent evaluations. This, in conjunction with Teachscape's Professional Learning Suite of online professional development courses, provides a robust teacher improvement program for districts.

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 Educational Testing Service (ETS)

At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

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 Kogeto, 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