Our evaluation: Planning is just getting started

As a candidate, Gov. Scott Walker promised to establish a teacher evaluation system that would reward highly rated teachers and take away teaching licenses from those judged to be ineffective for two years in a row.

Walker"s idea was to evaluate teachers on five criteria: planning and preparation, classroom environment, quality of instruction, professional responsibilities and yearly student progress.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the promise is being pursued through the Walker administration's participation in the state Department of Public Instruction's Educator Effectiveness Design Team.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers announced the team in December 2010, during the period between Walker"s election and inauguration. Its job is to develop recommendations for an evaluation system for both teachers and school administrators, he said.

The team is composed of representatives of 10 "stakeholder” groups, including the governor's office, teachers unions, and associations that represent school boards and school administrators.

Walker"s representative is Michael Brickman, an education policy assistant in the governor"s office, Werwie said.

The team is aiming to release a framework of an evaluation system in October 2011.

We rate this Walker promise as In the Works.