Dear Local Education Agency Representatives,

As you know, the District of Columbia has applied to the US Department of Education to receive flexibility from several provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). One of the conditions for receiving flexibility is that the State Education Agency, the District's Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), and each Title I Local Education Agency (LEA) commit to implementing teacher and principal evaluation and support systems that meet specific requirements. Please see the posted draft of DC’s Teacher and Principal Evaluation Requirements. The requirements build upon DC’s Race to the Top Requirements for Teacher and Principal Evaluation Systems and address additional criteria established by the US Department of Education. Also attached are the US Department of Education’s requirements for teacher and leader evaluation systems for your reference.

LEAs seeking to comment on the guidelines should submit feedback to Robin Chait at [email protected] by June 20, 2012. OSSE staff will subsequently finalize the requirements and submit them to the US Department of Education for approval on June 23, 2012.