Guidance Document Change: The Virginia Board of Education (Board) is required to establish performance standards and evaluation criteria for teachers, principals, and superintendents to serve as guidelines for school divisions to use in implementing educator evaluation systems. Section 22.1-253.13:5 of the Code of Virginia requires (1) that principal and superintendent evaluations be consistent with the performance objectives (standards) set forth in the Board’s Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents, (2) that school boards’ procedures for evaluating instructional personnel address student academic progress, and
(3) that evaluations include an evaluation of cultural competency.
The current Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Principals originally were approved on February 23, 2012, and subsequently revised on July 23, 2015, and January 10, 2020. Pursuant § 22.1-298.7 of the Code, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Board are currently involved in Phase 2 of a three-phase plan to revise the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Principals and Superintendents. Phase 2 is intended as a bridge between the current and future principal and superintendent performance evaluation systems. The major revision to the Guidelines in Phase 2 is the creation of a new performance standard, Culturally Responsive and Equitable Leadership. The establishment of this performance standard is required by House Bill 1904 and Senate Bill 1196 passed by the 2021 General Assembly. The legislation states that “evaluations shall include an evaluation of cultural competency.”
Commenter:
Guylene Wood-Setzer
Culturally Responsive and Equitable School Leadership