In today’s global economy, a solid education is essential for success.

Studies show that the most critical factor in a student’s success is an effective teacher. Recruiting, training and retaining outstanding teachers make a huge difference in long-term outcomes for students. Investing in the effectiveness of our teachers is the very best way that we can prepare students to succeed in college or a career. To do this well, we must have a system in place to give teachers far better feedback on their performance in the classroom.

Our traditional system of evaluating teachers falls short in this area. Upon receiving tenure at the end of their second year of teaching, the current system calls for Hawaii’s teachers to be evaluated once every five years based on a list of outdated teacher practices. Under this approach, teachers do not receive frequent constructive feedback on their performance. Furthermore, the described evaluation tool is disconnected from our vision of effective instruction.

The department has begun its pilot in the Zones of School Innovation (Nanakuli-Waianae and Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complex areas) and will continue to devise — with input from teachers, principals and administrators — a new teacher evaluation system that emphasizes effectiveness.

The proposed new evaluation system includes four research-based tools, all geared to generate greater feedback to support teachers. This evaluation system would use:

» A common observational process adapted from Charlotte Danielson’s well-recognized instructional model.

» A student survey, which offers detailed feedback on how each teacher’s instruction is perceived by the students in their classroom.

» A model that measures student academic growth relative to their peers with similar academic history (this measure is not the federal requirement of proficiency, but rather measuring where a student began at the start of the year, and the growth demonstrated over the course of the year).

» An annual performance review of student learning objectives, using a rigorous process where teachers set planned goals, based on the content standards, for what students will learn over a given time period.

The department has laid out a thoughtful process to develop and pilot these tools before planned implementation statewide in 2013-14. The new evaluation, based on multiple measures, includes a "highly effective" category for the first time. To truly nurture the teacher talent in our system, we must use evaluation data to guide investments in teacher recruitment, professional development, mentoring and compensation.

Educators have played an integral role in helping to shape our reform efforts. However, the ratification results tell us we need to expand our communication efforts and dialogue more with our educators as we move forward.

The proposed contract included a framework for continued collaboration between the teachers and the department, to ensure a fair, reliable process that focused on teacher improvement.

Meaningful observation and feedback are critical to the support of teachers and improving student achievement. We remain committed to work collaboratively with all parties involved, to do what is best for Hawaii’s children. It is what our keiki deserve and it is the right thing to do.