Publications

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 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.

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.

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.

Bilingual Stipend Payments, Allocation Analysis
This report provides a comparison of AISD teacher salaries and bilingual stipends to those in other Texas districts and analyzes the 2011-2012 school year bilingual stipend distribution within AISD.

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.
Title I, Part A Program Summary Report, 2012-2013
This report summarizes compliance and service data from AISD's federal Title I, Part A grant during 2012-2013. Title I, Part A funds were used to serve more than 46,000 students during 2012-2013, and funds were used to provide campus and district services and resources to support students, parents, and staff. For more information, please read the full report.

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.

AISD REACH Program Update: Longitudinal Student Growth
This report describes performance for schools, classrooms, and students at REACH schools, compared with that of students at similar comparison schools. Results suggest REACH likely facilitated meaningful improvements over time.

AISD REACH Program Update, 2012-2013: Professional Development Units
This report examines perceptions about Professional Development Units (PDUs), an optional component of the REACH program, as well as the effects of participation on instructional practice and student growth.