Good News: The state is hiring companies to create pre- and post-assessments in many, many subjects and grade levels between now and June 15. The end products will be made available to all school districts through a state-managed item bank.

Background:The Educator Evaluation System requires that two before and after tests, or District Determined Measures of Student Growth (Read more here: ESE Model System Part VII Rating Educator Impact on Student Learning Using District-Determined Measures of Student Learning, Growth, and Achievement – PartVII), be in place as part of the evaluation of every teacher in every course, starting in the fall of 2013. Districts will use the results of these assessments to rate teachers on their impact on student learning, from low to high. This impact rating, which will not be issued any sooner than June, 2015, is distinct from the performance ratings, which will be determined this June in Race to the Top districts.

The Big Challenge: For the 16% of teachers whose students take an MCAS test, this will be relatively easy. MCAS (student growth percentile) counts as the first measure and  MAP, Galileo, BAS, or an end-of-the-year test may qualify as the second. For teachers whose students are not assessed by MCAS, two measures will need to be selected and implemented. Companies contracted by the state will create assessments for all districts to draw from.