Charter School Teacher Attitudes Toward the Implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System

Abstract

No matter how well an educator evaluation system is designed, it can only be as effective as those who are actually implementing it in the trenches (Stronge, 1993). Unfortunately, many educational reforms at the school level have entirely failed or have failed to be implemented as designed. While much of the current educator evaluation research is focused on the perceptions of school principals and teacher perceptions of how the evaluation system has impacted student learning, "it is important to consider the faculty's perceptions of the evaluation system and their opinion of instructional leadership in their building" (Batchelor, 2008, p.22).

This study addressed the following main research questions: What is the relationship of the leadership dimensions of vision, support, structure, and trust on charter school teacher attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System? What do teachers perceive as the factors that contribute to teachers' attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System in relation to leadership?

Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used sequentially in this mixed methods study that examined charter school teachers' attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island model of the Educator Evaluation System. The population sampled was Rhode Island grade 6 - 12 Charter School teachers. The entire population was sampled for the online questionnaire, while a sample of those who completed the survey and volunteered were selected to participate in the focus group.

Survey respondents perceive support, structure, and trust as having a significant correlation with teacher attitude towards the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System; trust and support explained 72% of the variance. Focus group participants reported that alignment of visions, clarity, transparency, and a small school setting, were factors that contributed to their attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System.

The findings of this study could help several stakeholders in the implementation and sustained use of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System: school level leadership, district level leadership, and state level leadership.