Publications

Understanding the School-Wide Value-Added Measure Used in the Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) Appraisal System
This document describes PPfT school-wide value-added measure by showing how to gain access to your SAS Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS) account, stepping through the school growth measures, and discussing how growth is scored in PPfT appraisal.
Leadership Development: Summary of Evaluation Findings from 2019–2020
The main purpose of the 2019–2020 evaluation of the Department of Leadership Development was to evaluate the implementation of the newly developed assistant principal (AP) and principal hiring processes, designed to select a diverse group of equity-focused, effective novice leaders. The hiring process consisted of using an online video interviewing tool (HireVue) and an assessment center consisting of several tasks intended to assess candidates’ abilities to perform job-related duties.

Professional Pathways for Teachers: Summary of Evaluation Findings From 2017–2018
Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) is a human capital system that blends three primary components: appraisal, compensation, and professional development (PD) opportunities. The purpose of PPfT is to build the capacity of Austin Independent School District (AISD) teachers through a comprehensive system of supports and compensation with the ultimate goal of having a positive impact on teacher retention and student achievement. The current evaluation document presents descriptive analyses of the 2017–2018 PPfT appraisal and compensation data.

Professional Pathways for Teachers: 2018–2019 Evaluation Report
The purpose of this report is to help stakeholders of Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) understand and refine the methods used to measure program implementation and outcomes. This report also contains summative data on the progress of PPfT, which just completed its third year. PPfT first launched district-wide in AISD in the 2016–2017 school year, and since then the concept behind the program has been refined to that of empowering teachers and improving the quality of teaching through a multi-measure appraisal and compensation system.
Assessment Centers: AISD’s New Equitable and Rigorous Form of Personnel Selection for Assistant Principals and Principals
This report introduces the topic of assessment centers, an increasingly common personnel selection and development tool. A description of assessment center usefulness and their role in the selection of Austin Independent School District assistant principals and principals is also provided.

Leadership Development: Summary of Evaluation Findings from 2018–2019
This report describes findings from the Austin Independent School District’s (AISD) Department of Leadership Development 2018–2019 evaluation. The purposes of the evaluation in 2018–2019 were to update the Department of Leadership Development theory of change (ToC) and logic model and to evaluate the implementation of the newly developed assistant principal (AP) and principal hiring processes designed to select a diverse group of equity-focused, effective novice leaders to meet the goal of creating a leadership pipeline that reflects AISD values and fosters a selection and development mindset.
CARES 2018–2019 Evaluation Summary: A Brief Review of the First Year of Implementation
The purpose of the 2018–2019 CARES evaluation was to (a) help program staff conceptualize the CARES implementation work and goals; (b) define measurable indicators of implementation, outputs, and outcomes; and (c) provide summative data on the first year of program implementation. Results of the 2018–2019 CARES program evaluation activities were organized into four reporting areas: conceptualization of CARES, evaluation of implementation activities, baseline measurement of customer experiences, and exploratory correlation analyses.
A Comparison of AISD District-Wide Surveys: Addressing Responses to Similar Items Across the TELL, Student Climate, and Family Surveys
District-wide surveys are used in a variety of ways around the district and are designed to collect feedback from some of our main district stakeholders. Although there is a general understanding that some of the same topics are examined in these surveys, a comparison of these surveys to determine any direct overlap in survey items has not been explored. Therefore, it is the purpose of this report to identify similar items across these surveys and to examine the relationships between responses to or perceptions of these items.
TELL Survey Factor Structure: Factor Analysis and Recommendations for Survey Changes
The TELL Survey utilizes items representative of twenty different factors, or variables, within the domain of campus climate and culture. However, since the district began using the TELL Survey, a thorough examination of these factors and the items within each of these factors has not been conducted. This brief report aims to uncover the factor structure of the TELL Survey through factor analysis, to determine strong and weak factors and items, and to make recommendations for how the survey can be modified to more efficiently and accurately assess campus climate and culture.

Educator Excellence Innovation Program (EEIP), Multi-Year Summary of Implementation, 2014–2015 through 2017–2018
EEIP is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) grant program that funds innovation in teacher supports and leadership opportunities. This report summarizes the four-year implementation of EEIP schools and provides valuable lessons learned from the program.