Delaware phases in student progress rules for educator evaluations

Delaware’s education department must revise how student progress is used in educator evaluations. This applies to educator evaluations under Delaware’s Performance Appraisal System II. The measure must consider absences, school changes, repeated rule breaking, repeated failure by parents to meet their listed duties, and other factors the department identifies. An educator must agree before the performance of a student who missed more than 15% of class time can be used.

The department must test the revised measure in a pilot program. The pilot includes teachers, specialists, and administrators in participating school districts or charter schools. Each district or charter school and, if it has one, the group representing its educators in union talks must agree to take part. Participants still receive evaluations, but the revised measure cannot affect participating educators’ or schools’ overall ratings. The pilot covers at least three districts or charter schools in the 2025–26 school year and at least six additional ones in 2026–27.

The department must use the revised student progress measure statewide. The statewide measure applies to all licensed and certified educators. Statewide use begins in the 2027–28 school year.