Lessons Learned on Val Ed
Performance Evaluation Advisory Council
Dr. Erika Hunt
Center for the Study of Education Policy
My Background
• Director of Illinois State Action for Education
Leadership Initiative (IL-SAELP)
– http://www.centereducationpolicy.ilstu.edu
• Funded by The Wallace Foundation since 2001
Background of Val Ed
• Developed by a 3-year grant from The Wallace
Foundation ($1.5 million)
• Validation grant by Institute of Education
Sciences ($1.5 million)
• Primary resources/attention by IL-SAELP to Val
Ed = Development of Principal Evaluation IAI
Use of Val Ed for Principal Prep Study
• To compare skills/behaviors of new principals coming
out of old Type 75 programs to new principals coming
out of new Principal Endorsement programs
• Goal -- To recruit a sample of 100
– New principals who completed a Type 75 program
within last five years
– Out of 193 potential participants, were able to
recruit 21
• 21 participants – 2 backed out
• 6 participants could not meet teacher feedback
threshold of 50%
Why Val Ed?
• Measures principals’ effectiveness using 360º
feedback from teachers, supervisors, and principal
• Is the only 360º principal evaluation tool aligned
with new 2008 ISLLC standards
• Field tested in a nationally representative sample
• Best measurement of leadership attributes and
behaviors associated with student achievement
results
• Rated highest in terms of validity and reliability
What Is Val Ed?
Val Ed Conceptual Model
Val Ed Framework
Sample VAL-ED Form
VAL-ED Performance Level Descriptors
Below Basic
Basic
Proficient
Distinguished
Leadership behaviors
of core components
and key processes of
insufficient quality that
over time are unlikely
to bring the school to
produce acceptable
value added to student
achievement and social
learning.
Leadership behaviors
of core components
and key processes of a
quality that over time
are likely to bring the
school to produce
acceptable value-added
to student achievement
and social learning for
some sub groups of
students but not all.
Leadership behaviors
of core components
and key processes of
sufficient quality that
over time are likely to
bring the school to
produce acceptable
value-added to student
achievement and social
learning for all
students.
Leadership behaviors
of core components
and key processes at
levels of excellence
that over time are
virtually certain to
bring the school to a
point that produces
strong value-added to
student achievement
and social learning for
all students.
Feedback for Professional Growth
Val Ed Process
• District or school commits
– Provide number of teachers and name of supervisor
– Provide name of person in building to distribute
survey codes (e.g., union building rep)
• Discovery Education generates codes
– Codes include access codes for principal and
supervisor
• Survey is distributed and completed by teachers,
principal and supervisor
– Teacher Institute Day/Not as Thorough
– Time on Own/Partially Completed or Low Response
Best Uses of Val Ed
• “The VAL-ED is best used as part of a comprehensive
assessment of the effectiveness of a leader's
behaviors” – Joe Murphy and Ellen Goldring
• VAL-ED can be used annually or more frequently to:
– Facilitate a data-based performance evaluation
– Measure performance growth
– Guide professional development
• VAL-ED is best tied to a plan for continuous
improvement
Val Ed = Continuous Improvement
1) Principal evaluation Illinois Administrator Academy
2) Principal support/coaching
• SAMs initiative and Time Change Coaching
• New Principal Mentoring (esp. two-year programs)
3) Aligned with other data tools
• LPPW tool
• School Conditions surveys (www.TellIllinois.org)
4) Aligned district framework
• Charlotte Danielson Framework
5) Plan for district-wide prof. dev./communities of practice
Lessons Learned
• Takes a district/school commitment and
understanding
– Appoint district coordinator
• Educate teachers and principals about Val Ed
• Assure completion thresholds are met
• Coordinate into plan for professional growth
– Need teacher buy-in to make meaningful
– Need to carefully time distribution of survey
• Utilize mechanisms to monitor response rate
• Tie Val Ed assessment into a continuous
improvement process
Val Ed Resources
Val Ed Site - http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/x8451.xml
• User Manual
• Conceptual Framework and Research Basis
Discovery Education http://www.discoveryeducation.com/products/assessm
ent/val_ed.cfm