Identifying and Documenting Student Outcomes for Use in the Evaluation of Teachers When Standardized Achievement Tests Do Not Apply

The Student Achievement Outcome goal setting component of the Student Achievement Project (SAP) is described in this paper. It has focused on implementation and documentation procedures that may serve as alternatives to the exclusive use of standardized achievement test scores as indexes of student achievement and indicators of teacher effectiveness. The SAP is a three- to five-year study designed to address the inclusion of student achievement in Kentucky's educational program. The study involved 26 teachers working in 15 independent and county school districts. Participants developed goals and project synopses and held conferences with their principals before proceeding with implementation of projects. While standardized achievement test scores may be used as indicators of school or district level effectiveness, they cannot yet be defensibly used as measures of individual teacher effectiveness. Nonetheless, the piloted procedures described in this paper have potential for development as part of a teacher evaluation system that includes student achievement outcome data. The Goal/Assessment Documentation Form for Conference 1 and 2 and 16 data tables are appended. (TJH)