edTPA Information Sheet for Cooperating Teachers and University Supervisors
What is edTPA?
edTPA (educational Teacher Performance Assessment) is a national performance based assessment currently
being implemented in 37 states and Washington DC. Faculty and staff at Stanford University in partnership
with the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) developed the edTPA. This
assessment is intended to be used for teacher licensure and to support state and national program accreditation.
It will also ensure that all teacher candidates are prepared and are "classroom ready" on their first day as a
certified educator.
What is the status of edTPA at the University of West Georgia?
edTPA is part of the new-tiered certification for the state of Georgia and will be compulsory in the state of
Georgia in 2015-2016.
The timeline for implementation at UWG will be as follows:
AY 2013-2013: Training and Orientation
AY 2014-2015: Pilot
AY 2015-2016: Full Implementation
What do candidates need to do?
To complete edTPA, teacher candidates must submit a portfolio that consists of 4 tasks: Planning for Instruction
and Assessment, Instructing and Engaging students in Learning, and Assessing Student Learning in Literacy
and Math. Within this portfolio, students are required to submit artifacts to show evidence of their teaching. The
artifacts are lesson plans, video clips, student work samples etc. and explain their thinking behind their work in
reflective commentaries. All of the artifacts and commentaries come from the lesson segment created by the
student (3-5 connected lessons on one particular strategy).
Why does the edTPA include a video component?
A performance-based assessment of a teacher candidate requires an evaluation of actual teaching. The video
allows both the official edTPA evaluators and the teacher candidate the opportunity to evaluate their actual
teaching against the proposed outcomes based on the lesson plans and objectives.
Is permission required for video recording? Are the principals and teachers aware of this?
Teacher candidates must obtain parent/guardian permission to videotape students in the classroom.
Administrators should be aware of this by now. A video permission form is provided to the teacher candidate
that is in accordance with school and district policies. Interns will be distributing the Video Permission Form for
students to have signed by a parent/guardian the first week that they report to the school. The teacher candidate
will make accommodations for any student without parent/guardian permission.
How is the confidentiality of the students protected?
Teacher candidates sign an agreement regarding the privacy of the students. Artifacts are submitted to a secure
website with restricted access that is password protected.
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How are edTPA portfolios assessed?
The portfolios are assessed based on 18 rubrics, each of which looks at a different aspect of effective teaching.
Trained experts who are trained and supervised by Pearson complete official scoring. The UWG faculty and
staff have been trained in local evaluations, which allow them to assess edTPA portfolios for the purpose of
program feedback and improvements. UWG faculty and staff and Cooperating Teachers are NOT allowed to
evaluate, advise, or give feedback to the teacher candidates on any part of the edTPA portfolios
What edTPA supports are in place for the teacher candidates?
 Handbooks, templates, and other needed materials provided in Boot Camps and on Course Den.
 Video assistance- workshops, guide sheets, and one-on-one assistance.
 UWG faculty and staff that are familiar with edTPA
 Signature assignments and workshops in other Blocks before internship.
What kinds of feedback and support can the Cooperating Teacher give the teacher
candidate?
The Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE) has a very specific set of
guidelines for providing feedback to teacher candidates about their edTPA work. These
guidelines are outlined in a document, “Guidelines for Supporting Candidates Completing
edTPA”.
How does the Cooperative Teacher know what the edTPA is looking for?
The handbook, especially the rubrics, and the SCALE document, “Making Good Choices”
provide valuable information for edTPA expectations. Please encourage your teacher candidate
to read these materials thoroughly. If you would like access to these materials, please contact
the University supervisor.
What types of assignments will the teacher candidate need to complete?
The interns have specific assignments to complete for the portfolio. The first is a Context for Learning form that
describes the school and class, demographics, materials used, and specific learning needs of the students in the
class. They have four assignments regarding teaching activities, called tasks to complete. Tasks 1-3, the teacher
candidate will document the planning 3-5 lesson segment, videotaping the teaching, and analyzing the student
learning and their teaching with attention given to academic language development and use and supporting it
with research and/or theory. You may assist the teacher candidate in choosing a standard, but the teacher
candidate plans the lessons.
Task 4 is based on math lessons. The teacher candidate will analyze the student learning for a series of lessons,
choose three students who need extra help, and plan and teach a re-engagement lesson that addresses the
students learning needs.
Students in Blocks 1, 2, & 3 will have signature assignments to complete and a video component piece.
Your teacher candidate may need to complete some of the teaching tasks in a different classroom if your grade
level is departmentalized and you do not teach literacy or math.
If you have any questions or would like more information, you may contact the University Supervisor or
Lyn Steed. (lsteed@westga.edu) or 678-839-6078
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