N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:10-4.4

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 6A:10-4.4 - Teacher observations

(a) For the purpose of teacher evaluation, observers shall conduct the observations pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-123.b(8) and N.J.A.C. 6A:10-2.5 and 3.2, and they shall be trained pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:10-2.2(b).

(b) Observation conferences shall include the following procedures:

1. A supervisor who is present at the observation shall conduct a post-observation conference with the teacher being observed. A post-observation conference shall occur no more than 15 teaching staff member working days following each observation.

2. The post-observation conference shall be for the purpose of reviewing the data collected at the observation, connecting the data to the teacher practice instrument and the teacher's individual professional development plan, collecting additional information needed for the evaluation of the teacher, and offering areas to improve effectiveness. Within a school year, the post-observation conference shall be held prior to the occurrence of further observations for the purpose of evaluation.

3. If agreed to by the teacher, one required post-observation conference and any pre-observation conference(s) for observations of tenured teachers who are not on a corrective action plan may be conducted by written communication, including electronic.

4. One post-observation conference may be combined with a teacher's annual summary conference, as long as it occurs within the required 15 teaching staff member working days following the observation for the purpose of evaluation.

5. A pre-conference, when required, shall occur at least one but not more than seven teaching staff member working days prior to the observation.

(c) Each teacher shall be observed as described in this section. For all teachers, at least one of the required observations shall be announced and preceded by a pre-observation conference, and at least one of the required observations shall be unannounced. The chief school administrator shall decide whether additional required observations are announced or unannounced, if applicable. The following additional requirements shall apply:

1. Each observation required for the purpose of evaluation shall be conducted for at least 20 minutes.

2. Nontenured teachers shall be observed at least twice before March 18, 2020.

i. Except where a school district employs only one administrator whose position requires a supervisor, principal, or school administrator endorsement, nontenured teachers shall be observed during the course of the year by more than one appropriately certified supervisor.

3. Tenured teachers shall be observed at least two times during each school year. Observations for all tenured teachers shall occur prior to the annual summary conference, which shall occur prior to the end of the academic school year.

i. If a tenured teacher was rated highly effective on his or her most recent summative evaluation and if both the teacher and the teacher's designated supervisor agree to use this option, one of the two required observations may be an observation of a Commissioner-approved activity other than a classroom lesson. The Department shall post annually to its website a list of Commissioner-approved activities that may be observed in accordance with this section.

4. Chief school administrators shall have discretion to allow teachers on a corrective action plan to receive a summative score that results in a teacher summary rating of effective or highly effective. To receive this rating, a teacher shall have at least two observations that demonstrate progress toward an effective or highly effective rating before March 18, 2020.

5. Upon receiving a final summative evaluation that necessitates a corrective action plan, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:10-2.5(a), any remaining required observation(s) shall not be conducted until the corrective action plan has been finalized.

6. A written or electronic observation report shall be signed by the supervisor who conducted the observation and post-observation and the teacher who was observed.

7. The teacher shall submit his or her written objection(s) of the evaluation within 10 teaching staff member working days following the conference. The objection(s) shall be attached to each party's copy of the annual performance report.

(d) To earn a teacher practice score, a nontenured teacher shall receive at least two observations by March 18, 2020.

1. If a nontenured teacher is present for less than 40 percent of the total student school days in a school year, he or she shall receive at least two observations to earn a teacher practice score.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:10-4.4

Amended by 46 N.J.R. 2140(a), effective 11/3/2014.

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 251(a), effective 2/6/2017

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 974(a), effective 4/3/2020

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 1557(a), effective 8/3/2020