The world of performance management is changing the way things are done in the education sector. Many people are looking at PM in relation to students, with respect to how the inclusion of performance management principles might change the traditional grading structure. However, it’s also important to apply the new practices of performance management in education to the teachers that are educating the students in the first place.

When educators receive performance evaluations, part of the evaluation includes student assessments. School systems are tasked with creating a way to measure student growth, engagement, and learning, either through annual testing or another system when a state test isn’t available. Besides growth, though, there are several different factors of student performance that impact the grades educators get when they’re the ones being evaluated.

Performance Management in Education: How Student Performance Impacts Educator Assessments

Exams, State Tests, and Other Benchmarks

Each state has its own testing requirements and benchmark exams required for students throughout their educational journey. Some of the exams cover specific areas of expertise while others simply test competencies and grade levels. Others still will score individuals and help provide rankings for school districts by comparing the scores of these tests. This can be used for educational funding, school ranking purposes, and even to check the performance and success of the teachers within the school.

Outside of these tests and benchmarks, there are plenty of other ways to assess performance and see how the way students perform reflects on the education and expertise of the teacher in question. Before anything can be determined, there will be standards that are outlined for performance management, both among educators and students alike.

Other Assessments and Performance Indicators

In addition to state tests, yearly and semi-annual exams, and other types of testing that take a static picture of student performance, there are several other options for assessments and measuring performance that will give a reflection of how the educator is performing. It’s crucial to have a fair evaluation plan in place that helps engage teachers and ensure stakeholders that everything is being done to the highest standards. The higher quality the performance management plan is, the more easily districts will be able to track educator performance and find out where they need to make changes or improvements.

It will also allow educators to set goals in respect to performance and completion of different evaluations or missions. This also fosters an environment of collaboration and development among all teachers, creating a stronger bond in the school and within the district, alike. When people feel like they’re a part of a larger group that is appreciated, they are going to perform better and will be more likely to challenge students to perform better.

What if Students Aren’t Performing?

This debate has been going on for some time. Some believe that student performance is directly tied to the teacher—ergo, if a teacher is not doing their job effectively, a student will not perform well. While this can be the case in some situations, it isn’t always. Students may not be performing for any number of reasons:

  • Inattentiveness or disinterest
  • Lack of concentration
  • Apathy regarding the learning process
  • Attitudes or ignorant views of performance management
  • Life issues or personal events
  • Etc.

As you can see, there is no guarantee that student performance is directly tied to educator performance. However, the way that student performance is monitored and reported will be changing with the future of education and all teachers need to be aware of this. Not only will it make it easier to see how students are doing and where they rank, but it will help educators to deliver better performance themselves and reach out to the students who need it most.

Using Student Data to Evaluate Teacher Performance

The guidelines for the use of student information and performance as a means to evaluate teachers and their success must comply with all educational laws and guidelines. Student assessment data is standardized, and systems need to be in place to allow the comparison between these assessments and the capabilities of the educator in question to take place with ease. Essentially, it’s about making sure that there are metrics in place to measure student growth based on the teacher’s educational abilities and not leave anyone behind.

Another important part of this process is using the right evaluators and making sure that they are trained for the job. Just as you’re going to need someone educated and trained in teaching science to teach Biology, teachers deserve to be evaluated by those who understand what is expected of educators and know what to look for so that they can deliver an accurate rating of teacher performance across the board.

Is Performance Management Changing Education?

It seems like modern performance management methods are changing the world of education, but it’s likely for the better. Instead of an arbitrary grading system with basic points and marks, schools and teachers are turning to a more holistic learning approach and a similarly holistic approach to measuring student learning and growth through performance management metrics instead of the good old grading scale. The world of education is constantly changing and evolving, and that includes the way performance is monitored for students and teachers alike.

To keep educators on track and provide students with better learning resources, monitoring the performance of teachers and assessing their progress can be helpful. Not only that, but student performance that is a direct reflection of the educator in question will be a useful indicator of growth and success for the foreseeable future.  Aligning performance management metrics and systems with guidelines related to promotions and tenure increases educator buy-in and gives them more reason to engage in their own learning and development.

Linking the evaluation of educators to the growth and learning of the student delivers a clear message that effective practice starts at the top. That is what people can expect to see with the future of performance management and its role in measuring educator and student success.

The eLeaP continuous performance management system provides organizations with powerful options to attract and retain high caliber team members.