HB2178 Summary

• Establishes the Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS) as a statewide teacher evaluation framework with four performance levels: Distinguished, Proficient, Basic, and Unsatisfactory.

• Requires all public schools to implement TESS beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, with summative evaluations for novice teachers, probationary teachers, and those in intensive support status conducted annually, and other teachers evaluated at least once every three years.

• Creates an "intensive support status" for teachers rated "Unsatisfactory" in any evaluation category, lasting no more than two consecutive semesters, with specific goals and support requirements established by evaluators.

• Allows schools to recommend teacher termination or nonrenewal if a teacher fails to meet intensive support status goals, with a rebuttable presumption of substantive basis under the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act.

• Requires State Board of Education to develop evaluation frameworks and rubrics by September 1, 2012, conduct statewide training between September 2012 and August 2013, and implement a one-year pilot program in 2013-2014 before statewide rollout.