SB 22-044

Senate Bill 22-044, which has been signed into law, updates how teachers and principals in Colorado are evaluated. Starting from the 2022-23 school year, student academic progress will be taken into account during these evaluations, alongside other quality standards, but without a specific percentage weight. The bill also sets rules on using student test scores collectively at certain grade levels or within schools for specific purposes only and not beyond that level. This change aims to provide clearer guidelines for evaluating educators based partly on how much their students are learning.

Official Summary

The bill clarifies the purposes of licensed educator performance evaluations. The bill directs the state board of education (state board) to adopt rules as necessary to ensure that: Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, student academic growth is considered, without a percentage, along with the quality standards as part of a comprehensive evaluation of a teacher's or principal's performance; and Student assessment scores may be used collectively at a particular grade level or the school-building level solely for specified purposes, and collective measures may not be used beyond the school level. The bill specifies the measures a school district or board of cooperative services may consider in determining student academic growth for purposes of evaluating teacher performance. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)