The department must create and manage an evaluator training program for school district evaluators, and certain administrators and institutions must use or include it.
1. The department shall establish an evaluator training program to improve the skills of school district evaluators in making employment decisions, making recommendations for licensure, and moving teachers through a career path as established under this chapter. The department shall consult with persons representing teachers, national board-certified teachers, administrators, school boards, higher education institutions with approved practitioner and administrator preparation programs, and with persons from the private sector knowledgeable in employment evaluation and evaluator training in order to develop standards and requirements for the program. Evaluator training programs offered pursuant to this chapter may be provided by a public or private entity. The department shall distribute a list of evaluator training program providers to each school district. 2. An administrator licensed under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, who conducts evaluations of teachers for purposes of this chapter shall complete the evaluator training program. A practitioner licensed under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, who is not an administrator may enroll in the evaluator training program. Enrollment preference shall be given to administrators. Upon successful completion, the provider shall certify that the administrator or other practitioner is qualified to conduct evaluations for employment, make recommendations for licensure, and make recommendations that a teacher is qualified to advance from one career path level to the next career path level pursuant to this chapter. Certification is for a period of five years and may be renewed. 3. A higher education institution approved by the state board to provide an administrator preparation program shall incorporate the evaluator training program into the program offered by the institution. 4. The board of educational examiners shall require certification as a condition of issuing or renewing an administrator’s license. 5. By July 1, 2007, the director shall develop and implement an evaluator training certification renewal program for administrators and other practitioners who need to renew a certificate issued pursuant to this section. 2001 Acts, ch 161, §11, 25; 2001 Acts, ch 177, §8, 15; 2002 Acts, ch 1152, §18; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §49; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §95; 2006 Acts, ch 1182, §23; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2588 Referred to in §284.2, 284.4, 284.8, 284.13