Publications
AISD REACH Program Update: Mentoring and Beginning Teacher Effectiveness and Retention
This report provides a longitudinal overview of the AISD Reach mentoring program and its relationship to beginning teacher effectiveness and retention.
Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS) in Austin Independent School District
Correlations for PDAS scores from year to year were moderate, and experienced teachers generally outperformed their novice peers. Data suggest a weak-to-moderate relationship between 3-year averages of teachers’ PDAS and student growth scores.
Austin Independent School District (AISD) Pilot Teacher Appraisal System Update: 2012-2013 Focus Group and Survey Summary
This report summarizes data gathered from focus groups and a survey designed to assess teachers’ experiences with AISD's pilot teacher appraisal system. Additional data are included regarding the timing of administrators’ classroom observations.
AISD REACH Program Update, 2012-2013: Student Learning Objectives
Results of the evaluation suggest the SLO process is related to some positive outcomes for teachers and students. However, evidence indicates a need for program refinements to address discrepancies in SLO performance by staff role and school.
AISD REACH Program Update, 2012-2013: Student Learning Objectives
In 2012-13, 87% of educators at 38 REACH schools earned a stipend for meeting at least one Student Learning Objective (SLO) designed to address students’ needs. Relationships between SLOs, instructional practices, and student outcomes are described.
Austin Independent School District Pilot Teacher Appraisal System Update: Results of the 2012-2013 Student Response Survey
Feedback was obtained on 683 teachers at 12 schools from 9,000 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. Students’ ratings were generally favorable and correlated with some observation-based ratings. Implications for policy are addressed.
AISD REACH Program: Summary of Findings From 2007-2008 Through 2012-2013
Research from 6 years of AISD REACH suggested the program likely influenced student performance, teacher practices, and novice teacher retention. However, little evidence showed schoolwide growth or retention stipends facilitated desired results.
2012 New Teacher Induction Program (TIP) Training Survey Summary
This report summarizes survey results from newly hired teachers who participated in an August 2012 orientation and training duriprior to the start of school. Of survey respondents, most found orientation welcoming and useful. When asked about additional training they would like to receive, most wanted content-area instructional strategies, instructional technology, and using student data to plan instruction.
2012 Teacher Induction Program (TIP) Teacher Trainer Survey Summary
This report summarizes the survey responses of 68 teacher trainers who provided instruction and guidance to newly hired teachers in August 2012.
AISD REACH Program Update, 2012-2013: Peer Observation
This report summarizes 2012–2013 AISD REACH peer observation scores, the stability of scores over time, teachers’ perceptions of peer observation, the relationship between peer observation and other measures of teaching, and the program cost.