DCSD's Evaluation Focus Groups
CITE Focus Group
The CITE Focus Group was introduced during the 2015-16 school year as an opportunity for licensed professionals from all levels, licensed and administration, to work together to improve the efficacy of the evaluation rubrics used to measure educator growth. Membership in the focus group is voluntary. Several members have been part of the group from its inception, and over the years new members have been added. The opportunity to serve is open to any licensed employees and invitations are extended through Principal Notes, Teacher Notes, and principal recommendations. The membership link is provided below.
The purpose of the CITE Focus Group is to provide a voice for staff who engage with the CITE Rubrics either as an evaluator or an evaluatee. During the 23-24 school year, the group will work on developing rubrics and coaching and reflection guides to support special education teachers (including: mild/moderate, center-based, and early childhood) as well as the IEP and Assessment Specialist role.
CONFIRMED Dates (locations are to be determined):
August 31st - 4:30-7:00 p.m.
September 28th - 4:30-7:00 p.m.
October 26th- 4:30-7:00 pm
November 30th - 4:30-7:00 pm
December - NO MEETING
February 24th - 4:30-7:00 pm
March 14th - 4:30-7:00 pm
April 25th - 4:30-7:00 pm
May - NO MEETING
LEAD Focus Group
The LEAD Focus Group was introduced during the 2017-18 school year as an opportunity for licensed administrators from all levels to work together to improve the efficacy of the evaluation rubrics used to measure leader growth. Membership in the focus group is voluntary. The opportunity to serve is open to licensed employees and invitations are extended through Principal Notes. The membership link is provided below.
The purpose of the LEAD Focus Group is to provide a voice for staff who engage with the CITE Rubrics either as an evaluator or an evaluatee. During the 23-24 school year, the group will provide support and feedback as the system responds to changes related to Senate Bill 22-070. The LEAD Focus Group will also provide feedback for any newly created or revised rubrics (i.e., School Nurse, IEP and Assessment Specialist, Special Educator, Teacher Librarian, Professional Learning Specialist) as well as any coaching, reflection and guidance documents created by other professional groups.
The group will typically meet virtually. There may be opportunities to meet in person based on interest and scheduling. Meeting times and dates will be determined by the group members once membership has been established. Members can expect a first meeting (virtual) at the beginning of September.
SSP Focus Group
The SSP Focus Group was introduced during the 2020-21 school year as an opportunity for Specialized Service Providers to work together to improve the efficacy of the evaluation rubrics used to measure SSP growth. Membership in the focus group is voluntary. The opportunity to serve is open to all licensed employees and invitations are extended through Principal Notes. The membership link is provided below.
The purpose of the SSP Focus Group is to provide a voice for staff who engage with the CITE Rubrics either as an evaluator or an evaluatee. During the 23-24 school year, the group will work on developing coaching, reflection and guidance documents to support the rubrics in the SSP rubric collection.
The group will typically meet virtually. There may be opportunities to meet in person based on interest and scheduling. Meeting times and dates will be determined by the group members once membership has been established. Members can expect a first meeting (virtual) before the end of August.
Evaluation Council
As part of the 2018 Colorado Revised Statutes 22-9-107, all districts must maintain an evaluation council. The purpose of the council is to ensure that evaluation systems are fair, effective, credible and professional, as well as to provide continuous evaluation of unique evaluation systems. There are several options for how this council can be formed and how it operates. DCSD uses a CITE Focus Group (educators from all levels and building leaders), a LEAD Focus Group (leaders from all levels), and the District Accountability Committee (made up of teacher, principal, district, parent and community representatives).
The CITE Focus Group's main purpose is to support the creation and revision of CITE rubrics; the LEAD Focus Group does the same for the LEAD rubrics. Both groups report to the DAC and keep them apprised of any potential changes or additions with respect to rubrics. Based on information from the CITE and LEAD Focus Groups, the DAC provides feedback and is the final step in gaining approval before any changes/additions are presented to the Board of Education, which has the final say in whether or not a rubric is approved for use in the system.