R277-533-4. Evaluators and Standards for Education Observations

  (1) A school district's system shall include observations.

  (2) The school district shall use observation tools that:

  (a) are aligned with the Utah Effective Educator Standards described in Rule R277-530 at the indicator level; and

  (b) include multiple supervisor observations at appropriate intervals.

  (3) A school district's evaluation system shall include an opportunity for an educator to contribute additional information to inform their rating at several intervals throughout the process.

  (4) To ensure a valid evaluation system, a school district shall establish a school district rater reliability process that:

  (a) creates standardized ratings established by a committee of expert raters to be used for rater professional development and certification;

  (b) provides professional development opportunities to all raters and evaluators of licensed educators to:

  (i) improve a rater or evaluator's abilities; and

  (ii) give the rater or evaluator an opportunity to demonstrate the rater's abilities to rate an educator in accordance with the Utah Effective Educator Standards described in Rule R277-530;

  (c) designates qualified raters as certified;

  (d) assures that an educator is rated by a certified rater;

  (e) requires a school district to offer a rater opportunities to improve the rater's skills through instruction and practice; and

  (f) maintains high standards of rater accuracy.