Our goal is to help all FEA members deliver the highest level of instruction to the students we serve.
New Teacher Evaluation Process
 In April of this year the Virginia Department of Education, in order to meet federal regulations, revised the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers and the Virginia Standards for the Professional Practice of Teachers to become effective July 1, 2012. The state is recommending that 40% of a teacher’s evaluation be tied to student growth.  [For more information on the State requirements, go to www.doe.virginia.gov]
One part of the requirement is that a portion of each teacher's evaluation be based on student progress data from his/her classes. Only 30% of teachers (mostly elementary) have SOL's from prior years for measuring how far their students have come in a year. Unfortunately, 60-70% of teachers do not have state measurements to use for reporting their students' growth. Free standing, single SOL results are considered to measure achievement but not growth, and many teachers don't have those.
FCPS has formed a task force to work on the development of an instrument that will bring us in compliance with the state requirements. The FEA has 10 members currently serving on the FCPS Teacher Evaluation Task Force.  The FEA members on the task force are reaching out to colleagues. They are looking for the ways teachers already assess (common assessments, standardized tests, portfolios, performance criteria, etc.) that might serve as the needed sources of data which could be used for the most fair evaluations possible. 
FEA invites you to:

• Activate discussions among your in-field colleagues around the questions "If we could choose the measurements that would be most effective for showing our student growth and against which we might be evaluated, what would those be?"
• Attend one of the Cluster Meetings FEA is hosting
• Let us know your suggestions. You can share those through a special e-mail account teachereval [at] fairfaxea [dot] org set up by the FEA.

The task force is meeting twice a month from now until the end of the school year. The current timeline has FCPS piloting the new system in the Spring of 2012 and full implementation in July 2012. We will continue to update our members through all of our communication channels.
 
Web Resources: 
Both the National Education Association (NEA) and the Virginia Education Association (VEA) have websites that are rich with resources and the latest information that will be helpful to you. 
 
NEA offers lesson plans, information on classroom management, teaching strategies and advice and support.  NEA also offers information on grant opportunities, Read Across America activities and information on national issues and legislative issues.  NEA: www.nea.org  or to check out the NEA Foundation go to www.neafoundation.org
 
VEA’s website offers classroom tips, new teacher assistance, resources for gaining national board certification, upcoming training and workshops as well as discounts on supplies and materials.   VEA: http://www.veanea.org
 
The Fairfax Education Coalition (FEC) is a network of parents, teachers and community members dedicated to strengthening public involvement with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).  The coalition monitors and reports n the actions of the FCPS administration and school board to increase public awareness.  The will advocate for improved accountability, transparency and community engagement in the FCPS decision making process.    FEC: http://www.FairfaxEducationCoalition.org
 
Other Resources:
Teacher Union Reform Network:  www.turnexchange.net
National Center for Education Statistics:  www.nces.ed.gov
Mid Continent Research for Education and Learning :  www.mcrel.org
National council of Urban Education Associations:  www.nea.org/home/1610.htm
Screen Actors Guild Story online (good site for elementary teachers:  www.storyline.net