Implementing measures of teacher effectiveness.

TEACHER evaluation; EDUCATIONAL standards; TEACHER attitudes; SCHOOL principals; TEACHER development; TEACHER surveys; BILL & Melinda Gates Foundation; PUBLIC schools; CHARTER schools; ATTITUDE (Psychology)

The article discusses a teacher assessment program called the Intensive Partnerships for Effective Teaching initiative developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that focuses on teacher effectiveness as the centerpiece of teacher evaluations. The authors look at the initiative's implementation in several public school districts and charter schools in the U.S. and data about its impact during the 2010-2011 school year. Topics include surveys about teachers' and principals' attitudes regarding the teacher-effectiveness standards, the use of teacher evaluation systems to target professional development (PD) for teachers, and the evaluation system's impact on school environment and teachers' relationships with colleagues.