District-Union Collaboration on Teacher Evaluation Reforms

Teacher evaluations serve a dual purpose: 1) to hold teachers accountable for the quality of their instruction and student learning; and 2) to motivate and inform improvements in their practice. Given that teachers are considered to be the most important influence on student learning within the school environment, it is not surprising that policymakers look to teacher evaluations as a tool for improving student achievement. The policy landscape surrounding teacher evaluation in the U.S. is rapidly changing. Though reforms may be forwarded by state mandates, federal incentives, and funding from private foundations, implementation occurs at the district level, and in the 45 states where teachers unions are permitted, teacher evaluation procedures may be subject to collective bargaining. It follows that local stakeholders determine, to a large extent, the success of these reform efforts. If efforts to implement new teacher evaluations are to be successful — and ultimately effective — policymakers must understand when and why school district leaders, local teachers unions, and other key players collaborate, and how their interactions influence the reform process and its outcomes.

This dissertation presents three case studies of school districts in California that are working to reform their teacher evaluation policies. My research aim was to identify the conditions that led to successful development and adoption of teacher evaluation policies, as well as the factors that have contributed to challenges in those districts. I created a logical framework to outline the reform process and provide a canvas for telling the story of each case study district and for comparing cases. I explored the roles various stakeholders played over the course of district reform efforts and the evolving relationships between the districts and their teachers unions. I identified several factors that influenced the relationships between teachers unions and districts during the reform process and the policy outcomes of their efforts. Identifying the conditions that enable or impede collaboration can assist policymakers in making decisions that will encourage collaboration and minimize conflict, thus increasing the likelihood that their efforts will produce the desired outcomes. Based on my analysis, I present recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and for further research.