Teacher Performance Appraisal

Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA) for Experienced Teachers

The TPA process for experienced teachers is designed to foster teacher development, provide meaningful appraisals that encourage professional learning and growth and identify opportunities for additional support where required. It builds on the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) performance appraisal for new teachers that was introduced in June 2006. It is intended to provide a continuum of support as a new teacher successfully completes the NTIP and becomes an experienced teacher. Experienced teachers who have not participated in the NTIP will also benefit from this growth-focussed appraisal process.

Changes from the 2001 Appraisal System for Experienced Teachers

The Ministry made revisions to the TPA requirements for experienced teachers. As of September 1, 2007, all boards were required to implement the revised TPA requirements. The revised requirements reflect the recommendations of the Teacher Development Working Table report which is available on the Ministry's website: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/
partnership/teachApp.html

Key Features of the Revised Teacher Performance Appraisal System for Experienced Teachers

• Teachers are required to have one appraisal in an evaluation year every five years.
• The rating scale is two-points (Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory) and principals are able to recognize performance through the comments on the Summative Report Form.
• Requirements related to the Annual Learning Plan (ALP) make it an effective vehicle for the teacher's professional learning and growth in the evaluation year and the intervening years.
• Teachers are encouraged to include parent and student input in the development and review of their ALP to inform their professional learning and teaching practice.
• There is a refined Summative Report Form that eliminates redundancy and ensures principals' time is spent working with teachers rather than on paperwork.

Key Components of the Performance Appraisal Framework for Experienced Teachers:

The key components of the performance appraisal framework for experienced teachers are:

• Competency Statements to focus the appraisal on the immediate skills, knowledge, and attitudes that reflect the standards described in the Ontario College of Teachers' Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession.
• Annual Learning Plan to provide a meaningful vehicle for teachers, in consultation with principals, to identify strategies for growth and development for the teacher's evaluation year and for the intervening years between performance appraisals.
• Appraisal Meetings that promote professional dialogue between the principal and teacher. A principal must arrange a pre-observation meeting with the teacher in preparation for the classroom observation and a post-observation meeting after the classroom observation. The meetings provide opportunities for reflection and collaboration to promote growth and improvement.
• Summative Report to document the appraisal process, which becomes a vehicle for teachers to reflect on the feedback they receive in developing their ALP and identifying opportunities for growth. The Summative Report Form for Experienced Teachers is a ministry-approved form in accordance with the Education Act that provides a consistent approach to documenting the appraisal process.
• A Rating Scale to assess experienced teachers' overall performance and provide necessary feedback about strengths and areas for growth. The rating scale for experienced teachers is as follows:
  
  • Satisfactory
  • Unsatisfactory
• A Process for Providing Additional Support depending on the outcomes of the appraisal.

The Teacher Performance Appraisal Technical Requirements Manual and Approved Forms

The legislation, regulations and manual set out the time lines, processes, and steps to be followed.

• Performance Appraisal for Experienced Teachers – Technical Requirements Manual (2007) (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• Teacher Performance Appraisal System – Summative Report Form (Word, 252 KB).
  
  Boards are not allowed to remove any of the content from this approved form. Boards may add information, such as additional competencies (Section 277.32 of the Education Act), as long as this does not affect the substance of the form or mislead, and the form is organized in substantially the same way as the approved form

The Teacher Performance Appraisal for Experienced Teachers Effective Practices Binder

The Implementing the Revised Performance Appraisal Process for Experienced Teachers – School Board Resource Team Effective Practice Binder has been developed by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Provincial Coordinating Committee that included teacher federation and leadership association members, as part of the professional learning strategy.

The binder supplements the Performance Appraisal of Experienced Teachers: Technical Requirements Manual (2007). The samples, scenarios and case studies contained within the binder have been developed to support the professional learning provided. The samples are not provided as exemplars but as vehicles to stimulate discussion and to promote improved appraisal practice. The samples are intended for learning purposes only and are not intended to be replicated for performance appraisals taking place in schools. The names used in the samples are not intended to reflect the performance appraisal of any practicing teacher either now or in the future.

• Cover (PDF, 356 KB)
• Introduction (Word, 93 KB)
• Core Module One (Word, 1.97 MB)
• Core Module One Presentation (PowerPoint, 187 KB)
• Core Module Two (Word, 1.09 MB)
• Core Module Two Presentation (PowerPoint, 80 KB)
• Core Module Three (Word, 2.18 MB)
• Core Module Three Presentation (PowerPoint, 218 KB)
• Supplementary Material
• Facts Sheet (PDF, 159 KB)
• TPA Comparison Chart (PDF, 31 KB)
• Questions and Answers (PDF, 53 KB)
• Sample: Summative Appraisal Form (PDF, 50 KB)
• Sample: Annual Learning Plan (PDF, 77 KB)
• Glossary of Terms (PDF, 55 KB)
• References (PDF, 94 KB)

The Teacher Performance Appraisal System Sample Forms and Optional Resource

The following forms are intended to support the implementation of the Teacher Performance Appraisal System. These forms are provided as "Samples" and boards may choose to use them if they consider them to be useful. Boards modifying any sample form assume responsibility for ensuring that the modified form complies with all relevant legal and policy requirements. The Ministry of Education assumes no responsibility for forms modified by boards. Boards must not attribute any modified forms to the Ministry of Education or the Government of Ontario.

• Teacher Performance Appraisal System: Annual Learning Plan (ALP) Sample Form (Word, 60 KB)
• Teacher Performance Appraisal: Improvement Plan Sample Form (Word, 51 KB)
• Teacher Performance Appraisal: Log of Teaching Practice (Optional) (Word, 443 KB)

Related Information

• What's New
• Legislation/Regulations