Educator Quality and Professional Development
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New York State Standards-based Educator Evaluation and Professional Support (“STEPS”) System
GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
Overview of Requirements - NYS Educator Evaluation Plans
The purpose of this document is to provide a comparison of Educator Evaluation plans under Education Law §3012-d as-amended in 2019 with the newly established Education Law §3012-e (Standards-based Educator Evaluation and Professional Support system).
(Published 3/26/25)
Designing a NYS STEPS Plan - A Preliminary Guide
The enactment of Education Law §3012-e provides an opportunity for school districts and BOCES to reflect on their current educator evaluation practices and to develop new locally designed systems consistent with NYSED’s vision and shared goal of supporting teacher and leader development across the career continuum. This guidance introduces the new Standards-based Educator Evaluation and Professional Support (“STEPS”) system, designed to support all educators’ professional growth as a part of a comprehensive, systematic approach to advancing excellence in teaching and learning. This guidance document recommends a process for designing a STEPS plan, which includes an assessment of the LEA’s needs, goals, resources, and existing processes, using a theory of action informed by local priorities.
(Published 11/05/24)
Designing a NYS STEPS Plan – Requirements and Guidance
The purpose of this document is to:
- Answer questions that educators, administrators, and community stakeholders may have about the requirements for a STEPS plan - Education Law §3012-e as enacted by Chapter 143 of the Laws of 2024, and Subpart 30-4 of the Department’s regulations; and
- Provide guidance to Local Educational Agencies as they transition to a STEPS plan.
(Published (3/31/25)
Questions and Answers Relating to Evaluation Plans for the 2024-25 School Year
On Friday, June 28, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Chapter 143 of the Laws of 2024, which amends Education Law §3012-d and establishes Education Law §3012-e. The purpose of this guidance is to answer common questions that the Department has received about statutory changes and their impact on Educator Evaluation plans for the 2024-25 school year.
(Published 8/29/24)
WEBINARS
Evaluation Law Updates
The purpose of this 12-minute video webinar is to introduce the new Standards-based Educator Evaluation and Professional Support (“STEPS”) system.
The webinar covers the following topics:
- NYS STEPS Plan
- Impact of the New Law on Existing Evaluation Plans
- The Vision for STEPS Plans
- Role of NYS Teaching Standards & PSELs
- Multiple Measures of Assessing the Standards
- Required Observations / School Visits
- Scoring of the Evaluation System
- Evaluation Cycles in a STEPS Plan
- Professional Learning System & Support Plans
- Steps for your STEPS Plan
(Published 4/8/25)
STEPS Plan Workshop -Using a Needs Analysis to Select Teacher Measures
The purpose of this video webinar is to provide a recommended process for creating a meaningful STEPS plan for teachers. This is part 1 in the series.
This webinar covers the following topics:
- Conducting a Needs Assessment
- Data Review with School Stakeholders
- Case Study: Fowler CSD
- Using SMART Goals to Drive Your STEPS plan
- Identifying Priority Areas of the Standards that Align to Identified Goals
- Selecting Measures to Collect Target Evidence
- Case Study: Sample Measure Selection at Fowler CSD
Accompanying Materials
STEPS Plan Workshop materials
(Published 5/15/2025)
STEPS Plan Workshop -Using a Needs Analysis to Select Principal Measures
The purpose of this video webinar is to provide a recommended process for creating a meaningful STEPS plan for principals. This is part 2 in the series.
This webinar covers the following topics:
- Conducting a Needs Assessment
- Data Review with School Stakeholders
- Case Study: Brickman Elementary
- Using SMART Goals to Drive Your STEPS plan
- Identifying Priority Areas of the Standards that Align to Identified Goals
- Selecting Measures to Collect Target Evidence
- Case Study: Sample Measure Selection at Brickman Elementary
Accompanying Materials
Please review the STEPS Plan Workshop materials with your stakeholder group before watching the webinar.
STEPS Plan Principal Workshop Materials
(Published 5/15/2025)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The STEPS Plan Form
A PDF of theSTEPS Formis available for download(updated March 2025).
For questions related to designing a STEPS plan or to request access to the plan form in theNYSED Business Portal, please email educatoreval@nysed.gov.
NYS Teaching Standards with Indicators in Actionable Language
This chart provides actionable language for each standard and element of the NYS Teaching Standards and can be used as a planning tool in the NYSED STEPS Plan Workshop: “Using a Needs Analysis to Select Teacher Measures”and in the development of your STEPS plan to:
- Increase familiarity with the standards
- Identify which indicators align with instructional priorities that will support the goals from the LEA’s needs assessment
- Determine what types of evidence would be appropriate to evaluate the selected indicators
- Allow for clear documentation of the selected indicators and provide transparency in evaluation
(Published 5/15/2025)
Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (NYS version) with Indicators in Actionable Language
This chart provides actionable language for each standard and element of the PSELs and can be used in the development of your STEPS plan to:
- Increase familiarity with the standards
- Identify which indicators align to instructional priorities that will support the goals from the LEA’s needs assessment
- Determine what types of evidence would be appropriate to evaluate the selected indicators
- Allow for clear documentation of the selected indicators and provide transparency in evaluations
(Published 5/15/2025)