Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE and LOCAL

FISCAL NOTE

State General Fund Expenditure Impact

State Cash Fund Revenue and Expenditure Impact

School District Expenditure Impact


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-174

Rep. Allen

Sen. Arnold

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

November 14, 1997

House Education

Harry Zeid (866-4753)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR CERTIFICATED EDUCATION PERSONNEL.



Summary of Legislation


STATE FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY

FY 1998/99

FY 1999/2000

State Revenues

General Fund

Educator Licensure Cash Fund



$5,300



 

State Expenditures

General Fund

Educator Licensure Cash Fund


$4,500

$5,300



 

FTE Position Change

None

None

Local Government Impact The bill will increase the workload of some administrators at the school district level.


            This bill would make changes to current law regarding the requirements for principal and administrator preparation programs related to teacher evaluations. In addition, the bill would modify the procedure for and method of evaluations for probationary and nonprobationary teachers.


            Sections 1 through 4 of the bill would require that each university or college in the state that offers a principal or administrator preparation program, or school district or BOCS that provides evaluator training, include standards-based performance assessments of each program participant, demonstrated competency, and certification of the skills mastered by the participant. Training areas to be included in the training program are identified in the bill. The State Board of Education would adopt rules to ensure that principal and administrator programs of preparation meet these requirements. Principals and administrators who are assigned evaluator duties on or after July 1, 2000, would be required to have evaluator training that meets the requirements established by the State Board.


            Section 5 of the bill modifies the duties of local boards of education. Specifically, each school district’s performance evaluation system would include one documented observation every 90 days and one written evaluation per year for probationary teachers. One documented observation per semester and one written evaluation every three years would be required for nonprobationary teachers. The bill establishes that at least one of the standards set by local school districts for measuring teacher performance shall be directly related to classroom instruction, including student performance. Performance standards and criteria would be available in writing to all certificated personnel of the school district. Evaluation reports may include peer observations and standardized client surveys.


            The bill will require an expenditure of General Fund and cash fund moneys at the state level and will increase the workload of some administrators at the school district level. Therefore, the bill is assessed as having state and local fiscal impact. The bill would become effective July 1, 1998. Section 5 of the bill would apply to evaluations conducted on or after that date.



State Revenues


            The bill would require additional funds for amending rules for higher education program approval and for developing new rules for approval of evaluator training programs. The one-time expenditure of $5,300 for FY 1998-99 would be paid from the Educator Licensure Cash Fund through a minimal increase in educator license fees of approximately 20 cents per license.



State Expenditures


            Section 1 of the bill requires that every university and college within the state that has a principal or administrator preparation program ensure that the program includes training in the evaluation of certificated personnel that meets the requirements of the bill. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education anticipates that no fiscal impact would result from institutions of higher education modifying courses to comply with these changes.


            The bill would result in the need for additional state expenditures, however, for the Department of Education during FY 1998-99 in two primary areas: a cash fund expenditure for amending rules for higher education program approval and developing new rules for approval of evaluator training programs, and a General Fund expenditure for developing amendments to State Board of Education guidelines relating to personnel evaluation.


            Educator Licensure Cash Fund. Section 2 of the bill requires that the State Board of Education adopt rules to ensure that principal and administrator programs of preparation at institutions of higher education meet the requirements concerning instruction in evaluating certificated personnel that are outlined in Section 1 of the bill. It is anticipated that this task will require $3,000 for the cost of several meetings to develop rule amendments for educator licensure, as well as meetings to develop new rules relating to new evaluator training. In addition, the need for $1,500 is anticipated for related operating expenses such as postage and office supplies. In addition, $800 will be required to cover the cost of notification of principals and administrators regarding the new professional development requirements for license renewal. It is anticipated that the one-time expenditure of $5,300 for FY 1998-99 would be paid from the Educator Licensure Cash Fund through a minimal increase in educator license fees of approximately 20 cents per license.


            General Fund. It is assumed that the Department of Education will convene the State Certificated Personnel Evaluation Council for two meetings to develop revisions of the State Board guidelines on personnel evaluation. It is anticipated that the cost for these meetings will be $1,000. In addition, it is anticipated that $3,500 will be necessary for the cost of printing and distribution of 1,000 copies of the guidelines to local administrators, BOCS directors, local school district certificated personnel performance evaluation councils, and other affected individuals. The one-time cost related to these meetings, and the cost of distributing the revised guidelines would be a General Fund obligation.



School District Impact


            Section 4 of the bill modifies the frequency and duration of evaluations that must be conducted for probationary and nonprobationary teachers to ensure the collection of a sufficient amount of data from which reliable conclusions and findings may be drawn. It is anticipated that for a majority of school districts, this requirement will increase the number of evaluations that will be conducted annually. Therefore, a shift in administrator time and resources to the evaluation process can be expected. Similarly, a modification of school district and BOCS personnel evaluation systems will be required.



Spending Authority


            The fiscal note implies that the Department of Education would require an additional General Fund appropriation in the amount of $4,500 in FY 1998-99 in order to implement the provisions of the bill. In addition, the Department of Education would require additional cash fund spending authority in the Educator Licensure Cash Fund in the amount of $5,300 in FY 1998-99.



Departments Contacted


            Education       Colorado Commission on Higher Education