Peer Assistance Review (PAR)

PAR is the acronym for Peer Assistance and Review. PAR was signed into legislation in 2000 as part of the School Accountability Act, and developed locally through collaboration between the San Bernardino Teachers Association (SBTA) and the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD). The PAR program offers a unique approach to supporting teachers that enables exemplary teachers to assist their peers in subject matter knowledge, classroom management and/or teaching strategies.

Consulting Teachers

PAR Consulting Teachers (CTs) are credentialed classroom teachers who have demonstrated exemplary teaching ability and possess a minimum of five years teaching experience. PAR Consulting Teachers also demonstrate effective communication skills, subject matter knowledge and mastery of a range of teaching strategies, including a thorough understanding of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs). The PAR Joint Panel selects PAR Consulting Teachers. 

Participating Teachers

There are different ways teachers may participate in the PAR program:

• Mandatory Participation: Unit members receiving an overall "Unsatisfactory" performance rating based all or in part on unsatisfactory ratings in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs)

• Voluntary Participation (Joint Panel must approve the application to participate):

  • Unit Members receiving an overall “Partially Meets” performance rating based on areas of the CSTP have the option to self refer.

  • Unit Members seeking assistance in improving their teaching skills or who are working toward goals on an Assistance Plan also have the option to self-refer.

  • Unit Members new to the district:

    • Interns: Unit members who are participating in accredited university internship

    • Pre-Interns: Unit members who are participating in accredited university internship, but have not yet completed the required units/credits

    • Emergency Credentials: Unit members who have B.A degrees and hold emergency credentials Provisional Internship Permit (PIP), Short-Term Staff Permit (STSP)

    • Clear Credentials: Unit members who possess clear credentials and are new hires to the district (P1, P2)