Attachment to BEC - Employe Rating Form, 24 P.S. Section 11- 1123
Date of Issue: July 1, 1999
351.22 Additional Standards for Use of the PDE-5501
(a) Standards for use of PDE-5501 have been incorporated in the official rating card. Additional standards are stated in this section.
(b) Descriptors in each category of the PDE-5501 shall not be weighted.
(1) The rater shall not divide the total number of points in each category of personality, preparation, technique and pupil reaction by the total number of descriptors in that category and assign a weight to each descriptor.(2) The rater shall rate the employee in a category using the descriptors as guides; he/she shall not manipulate each descriptor and give it a standard weight or value.
(3) The rater does not have to react to all items listed as descriptors in each observation.
(c) Descriptors are not listed in the four categories in order of importance but simply in alphabetical order.
(d) When a gross deficiency in a category is observed, the rater shall place a check in the block provided at the top right corner of that category.
(e) The total efficiency rating or number shall be registered in the space provided at the bottom of the front sheet of the PDE-5501.
(f) A school district may assign a numerical equivalent to satisfactory and to unsatisfactory and determine that only the difference between those two numbers equivalent to satisfactory and unsatisfactory constitutes a substantial difference.
(g) Rating of less than 20 in any category shall be substantiated by anecdotal records and discussed with the employee within 5 working days after the day of the final observation preceding the rating. The discussion may take before or after the rating is approved by the superintendent. The 5 day limitation may be extended only because of emergency or extenuating circumstances
(h) A temporary professional and professional employee shall be given the opportunity to sign his/ her rating form.
(i) If the employee refuses to sign in the space provided, such refusal shall be recorded and dated. The employee shall be notified in writing of this notation within 10 days.
Standards For Alternative Rating Forms
351.23 Alternative Rating Form
(a) Each board of school directors may adopt an alternative rating form and submit the same to the department for approval by May 30 of the year preceding the school term in which the form is to be used. However, for the 1979-80 school year, the form shall be submitted by October 30, 1979 if it is to be valid after January 1, 1980.
(b) The alternative rating form shall conform to the standards set forth below in Sections 351.24, 351.25, 351.26, 351.27 and Section 351.24 (a) (b) (c) (d).
(c) All previously approved forms shall be valid until January 1, 1980 provided that ratings are conducted in conformance with Section 351.24 (a) (b) (c) (d).
351.24 General Rating Using Alternative Forms
(a) When an alternative form has been approved by the Department of Education, the rater shall use the alternative form for every official rating of temporary professional or professional employee.
(b) Professional employees shall be rated a minimum of once each year.
(c) Temporary professional employees shall be rated once each semester for a minimum of two ratings each year.
(d) Rating shall be substantiated by anecdotal records and discussed with the employee within 5 working days after the final observation preceding the rating. The discussion may take place before or after the rating is approved by the superintendent. The 5 day limitation may be extended only because of emergency or extenuating circumstances.
(e) A temporary professional and professional employee shall be given the opportunity to his/her rating form.
(f) If the employee refuses to sign in the space provided, such refusal shall be recorded and dated the employee shall be notified in writing of this notation within 10 days.
(g) The alternative rating form shall be restricted to the consideration of four major Categories: personality, preparation, technique, and pupil reaction.
(h) The alternative rating form need not require numbers or a numerical rating.
351.25 Reserved
351.26 Unsatisfactory Rating
(a) Two consecutive unsatisfactory ratings of a professional employee shall be necessary to dismiss on the grounds incompetency. This requirement insures that dismissal is not based on the first instance of unsatisfactory performance, but that dismissal follows notice and an opportunity for the professional employee to improve.
(b) The intermediate unit director or district superintendent shall approve and sign the rating form when an unsatisfactory rating is recorded.
(c) Whenever an unsatisfactory rating is given, it shall be supported by anecdotal records. The records shall include specific evidence likely to be important in the event of dismissal.
351.27 Plan for Alternative Rating System.
(a) Each submitted plan shall include the following elements:
(1) Statement of the objectives of the alternative rating systems.
(2) Description of the procedures used to develop the rating form. This shall include dates and groups involved.
(3) Documentation from the chief school administrator explaining the involvement in the development of the alternative rating form of those professional employees who are to be evaluated.
(4) Description of the procedures for appealing the rating.
(5) Description of the process by which the rating form will be used to improve professional employees' performance.
(b) Professional employees shall be given the opportunity to submit documentation to the Department of Education explaining their involvement in the development of the alternative rating form.
(c) An alternative rating form adopted by the board of school directors shall become effective when approved by the Secretary.
351.28 Procedure for approval of Alternative Rating Form.
(a) After approval by the board of school directors, the chief school administrator or intermediate unit executive director shall submit the proposed rating form to the Department of Education.
(b) Two copies of the rating form shall be submitted to the department at least 60 days prior to the tentative adoption date.
(c) The chief school administrator or intermediate unit executive director shall be notified of the Department of Education's decision in writing within 60 days of receipt of the form by the department. Failure to receive notice of approval or disapproval within 60 days acts as an approval.
(d) The rating form adopted by the board of school directors or intermediate unit board of directors and approved by the Secretary of Education shall become an integral part of the written polices of the board and shall be made available to all temporary professional/ professional employees covered by the rating form.
July 1997 24 P.S. § 11-1123
Contact Bureau/Division:
Pennsylvania Department of Education
School Services Unit
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Telephone: (717) 783-3750
TTY: (717) 783- 8445
Last Modified Date: February 10, 2000
Expiration Date July 2003