Teacher Evaluation in SwedenTeacher Evaluation in Sweden

OECD WorkshopTowards a Teacher Evaluation Framework in Mexico: International Practices, Criteria and Mechanisms1 – 2 December 2009, Mexico City

Dr. Ulf FredrikssonEducation DepartmentMid Sweden University

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Teacher Certification and Selection in Sweden

• Basic information about education in SwedenBasic information about education in Sweden• Teacher Evaluation in Sweden:Teacher Evaluation in Sweden: Three Three

approachesapproaches• School InspectionSchool Inspection• Individualised SalariesIndividualised Salaries• Continuous DialogueContinuous Dialogue• Teacher CertificationTeacher Certification• Conclusions: A Swedish approachConclusions: A Swedish approach

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Some basic information

Population

(million)

Population/km2

Surface

Sweden 9 20 449 964 km2

Mexico 108 55 1 958 201 km2

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Sweden: Number of teachers:

• Pre-school:

72 507

• Primary and lower secondary education:

83 784

• Upper secondary education:

27 346

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Sweden: Investment in education

• % of GDP: 7.3

• % of national budget: 12.8

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Sweden :Level of education in the population

Percentage of the population aged 20 to 24 having completed at least upper secondary education

86.3 %

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Sweden: Education system

• Pre-school classes: 1 year, compulsory for the municipalities

• Compulsory school: 9 years, a unified system with some options to chose during the last years

• Upper secondary school: 3 years, not compulsory, most students continue, different tracks

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Sweden: Levels in the system

• Three levels in the system: National – Municipal (290 municipalities) - School

• Municipalities get income from taxes and state grants

• Municipalities determine how to organize education (in accordance with national laws)

• Municipalities usually have a municipal school board

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Sweden: Responsibilities of the municipalities

• Municipalities develop their own allocation system

• Municipalities develop school plans based on the national curriculum

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Sweden: School management

• Every school has a principal

• The Principal: responsible for the daily work and for the development of the education in the school

• The municipalities often delegate responsibilities to the principals

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Co-operation and consultations with stakeholders

• Co-determination act: general law applicable for all employers, guarantees on-going information from employer to recognised unions, negotiations about all major decisions taken by the employer

• Students: influence on the work in the classroom, representation in local school boards

• Parents: Co-operation with parent associations, meeting with parents, representation in local school boards

• Staff: representation in local school boards, information and negotiations with the staff unions

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Teacher Evaluation in Sweden:Teacher Evaluation in Sweden: Three approachesThree approaches

• No specific system for teacher evaluation, No specific system for teacher evaluation, but integrated in other activities….but integrated in other activities….

• School InspectionSchool Inspection

• Individualised SalariesIndividualised Salaries

• Continuous DialogueContinuous Dialogue

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School InspectionSchool Inspection

• The Swedish Schools Inspectorate makes sure that those responsible for schools, i.e. primarily local authorities and those in charge of running independent schools,  follow the laws and regulations that apply.

• Full inspection: legal and quality aspects. Targets three key areas with attention paid to the conditions of the operation and the results of the work:

1) Results, standards of achievement, learning and teaching. 2) How schools succeed in teaching students the norms and

values of a democratic society 3) The management and internal audit are inspected both at

the municipal and the individual school level.

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School InspectionSchool Inspection

• An inspection always results in a decision - measures to take or action required by the authority/party responsible for the school.

• The inspected local authority has to report in writing within three months on the work carried out to rectify shortcomings. If the Inspectorate believes that the requirements are satisfactory it will conclude the inspection; otherwise, the Inspectorate requests additional measures from the responsible organisation.

• For independent schools, inspection could also result in a decision to withdraw the school’s license to operate or it’s right to receive subsidies.

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School InspectionSchool Inspection• Quality evaluations, takes a closer look at a

particular area. For example, quality evaluations may be conducted for a particular school subject such as mathematics or for a more overall area such as access to special assistance for students.

• Analyses of the shortcomings identified are used to determine the areas where quality evaluations are needed.

• Regular inspections may also identify shortcomings that result in the evaluation of a specific area.

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School InspectionSchool Inspection

• It is possible for students, parents and others to file a complaint about the shortcomings in a particular school with the Swedish Schools Inspectorate.

• The Inspectorate can on its own initiative investigate a school, pre-school or other organisation as the result of shortcomings that have attracted the attention of the media for example.

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School InspectionSchool Inspection• Self-evaluation• Every municipality must draw up a quality report

at municipal level with regard to all municipally-run pre-school activities, school-age child care, and school activities.

• Every school must draw up a quality report. • The quality reports are publicly available to

anyone who wants information about a specific municipality or school.

• Problems with reporting.

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Individualised SalariesIndividualised Salaries

• Salaries for teachers individual and differentiated.

• A general framework negotiated between teacher unions and the municipalities.

• Specific guidelines negotiated in the municipalities or in the schools.

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Individualised SalariesIndividualised Salaries

• Salaries should be based on• The tasks: position, responsibility, work situation

and content.• How the tasks are done: competence, experience

and results.• The individual salary is proposed by the principal

and negotiated with the individual teacher (who could be supported by the union).

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Individualised SalariesIndividualised Salaries

• The principal should base his/her proposal on an informed judgement of the teachers work.

• In the discussion about the salary the principal should explain his/her proposal.

• Those who get no salary increase or only a very low increase over time should be given the reasons for this in a dialogue with the principal.

• Not all schools/municipalities have developed guidelines.

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Continuous DialogueContinuous Dialogue

• Principals are expected to have on regular basis a discussion with individual teachers where the teacher´s tasks and work are discussed and evaluated.

• These discussions can be used to decide about needs for professional development and other types of support.

• They can also be used for a judgment related to future negociations about the salary.

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Teacher Certification

• Before a teacher gets a permanent position there is a one year probation period.

• A proposal is being prepared which will introduce an new type of additional teacher certification that will be awarded teachers after some years of teaching based on good teaching and/or accademic degrees.

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Conclusions: A Swedish approachConclusions: A Swedish approach

• DecentralizationDecentralization

• TransparencyTransparency

• Trust Trust

• PurposePurpose

• A Nordic approachA Nordic approach

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Summary• There is no specific teacher evaluation in Sweden.• Teacher evaluation is an integral part of other

activities.• Inspections• Individualized salaries• Continuous dialogue between principal and

teachers• Probation period, additional certification after

some years.• Decentralization, transparency, trust, purpose

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Thank you!Gracias!

ulf.fredriksson@miun.se