Alternative Evaluation

Information and Process

 

General Information:

• Article 15.3.5 and 18.10.1 in BUSD/BFT Contract

• Permanent BUSD teachers receiving a summative evaluation with an overall rating of “Distinguished” or “Proficient” [on a traditional evaluation] may participate in the Alternative Evaluation (AE) process in their subsequent evaluation year.

• The contract requires a “mutual agreement” between the teacher and the evaluator in order to engage in the AE process.

• Permanent BUSD teachers may [with evaluator agreement]:

  • Engage in the AE process during their first evaluation cycle with permanent status

  • Engage in the AE process in consecutive evaluation cycles

• Possible reasons for completing an AE:

• Opportunity to grow, engage, and be inspired by meaningful professional development as an educator through a combination of peer collaboration, choice, variety, passion, self-guided projects and reflection.

• Many teachers report some of their best professional growth having occurred with the AE process.

• Benefits student achievement and projects can be tailored to address specific student goals.

• Meet individual professional development needs that are not being addressed through district wide staff development days nor through site/department/grade level meetings.

• Allows evaluators to focus time and energy on teachers who are new or needing more support.

• See BFT teachers speak about the AE process firsthand in this short video.

• For more information about evaluations in general, see BFT FAQ.

 

Options and Requirements

• In addition to the specific requirements for each option, all AE participants will:

  • Complete AE Pre Project Form

  • Complete AE Post Project Form

  • Present oral report of process/findings to grade level team/staff/SLC/department in the spring

  • Complete a survey from the BPAR Panel about the AE experience

• Click on the options below to learn more:

  • Lesson Study

  • Teacher Inquiry

  • National Board Certification

  • National Board Support Provider

  • Mandatory Peer Assistance and Review Consulting Teacher 

  • New Teacher Induction Support Provider

  • Peer Observation

  • Other projects (agreed upon between teacher and evaluator)

• To help select an option:

  • Talk with colleagues who have completed an AE in the past

  • See this document for inspiration

 

Process

 September:

• • Teachers are informed if the current year is an evaluation year and who their evaluator will be by 9/30. 

  • Soon after being notified, the teacher should contact their evaluator if they are interested in an AE.

  • The permanent teacher and evaluator come to mutual agreement (including option selected) about completing an AE instead of a traditional evaluation.

• October

  • By 11/1, evaluator indicates Alternative Evaluation on the evaluation spreadsheet shared with evaluators by Rhonda Cervantes in HR.

  • By 11/1, the teacher and evaluator meet to complete the AE Pre Project Form describing the project.

• November-April

  • Teacher engages in the selected AE option.

  • Schedule time for teacher to share process/findings to grade level team/staff/ SLC/department.

• April:

  • By 4/24, teacher presents process/findings (evaluator is in attendance) 

  • Teacher and evaluator complete the AE Post Project Form by 5/1

• By May 15:

  • Teacher completes survey about the process and project content.

    • This information is collected by the BPAR Panel to help assist other teachers in selecting AE options.

 

*If you have further questions about Alternative Evaluations, please contact your site evaluator or BFT site rep.

Updated 9/17/25