Ontario teacher appraisals

March 18 2002 - Measures are now in effect giving parents and senior students input into Ontario teachers' performance appraisals. According to Education Minister Janet Ecker:

"Parents and students can provide valuable input into a teacher's appraisal. Their feedback will help to improve student achievement and support teachers in their efforts to inspire and motivate students."

The new measures are included in regulations which came into force March 15 and will phased into Ontario schools, starting this fall. They ensure that students in Grades 11 and 12 or on OAC courses can provide input on areas such as student-teacher communication and a teacher's ability to promote student learning. Parents of students from all grades will be able to provide input in areas such as a teacher's communications to parents and students will alsogive input.

These measures form part of the comprehensive Ontario Teacher Testing Program and are intended to support teaching excellence. The provincial government's program includes:

* A qualifying test for new teachers, from April 27.
* Ongoing professional learning requirements for practicing teachers
* Clear and consistent criteria for performance appraisals.

Inputs from parents and students are just one component of the performance appraisals of teachers that will be conducted by principals and vice- principals. Performance appraisals will also include:

- the teacher's level of commitment to the pupils
- the teacher's knowledge of the curriculum, and other factors.

The appraisals will be will be conducted every three years for experienced teachers and twice in each of the first two years for new teachers or those moving to another school board.

The Ontario Teacher Testing Program is based on programs in other jurisdictions. The government argues that it is similar to the requirements for other professions, such as doctors, lawyers, nurses, architects and occupational therapists. It follows on from recommendations from Ontario's education partners and recommendations from the 1995 Royal Commission on Learning.

"Teachers play a key role in helping students to achieve their potential," Ecker said. "It is important that all teachers participate in ongoing professional development so that their skills and knowledge are up-to- date."

But teachers are not happy.

"Elementary teachers continue to be concerned about the government's Quality in the Classroom Act," says Emily Noble, First Vice-President of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), representing 65,000 teachers and education workers across Ontario.

"This Act focuses on the mechanics of performance appraisal for teachers and is designed to ensure the process is punitive rather than constructive. For example, we are concerned the appraisals will be governed in part by anonymous complaints from parents and students, against which teachers will not be able to defend themselves.

"ETFO has developed a performance appraisal model for teachers that ensures accountability in the classroom. This has been presented to the government and is available on our web site at www.etfo.ca."