HB 5952 Summary

• Replaces the four-tier teacher performance rating system (highly effective, effective, minimally effective, ineffective) with a simpler two-tier system (effective and needing support), eliminating the requirement that student growth data be the predominant factor in evaluations.

• Removes mandatory percentage requirements for student growth and assessment data in teacher evaluations (previously 25-40%), allowing evaluation systems to focus primarily on pedagogical skills, classroom management, and professional conduct instead.

• Changes evaluation frequency to annual assessments for teachers rated as needing support and once every 3 years for teachers rated as effective, reducing the evaluation burden on higher-performing teachers.

• Adds binding arbitration procedures for teachers rated as needing support who wish to challenge their evaluation, with costs split 50-50 between the school district and teacher.

• Modifies professional teaching certificate requirements to base initial certification on 2 consecutive effective evaluations rather than 3 consecutive years of rated effectiveness, and removes the "highly effective" requirement for advanced professional education certificates.