How to Write a Teacher Improvement Plan

Co-authored by Brooks Gibbs, PhD

Last Updated: October 4, 2024

When a teacher receives an evaluation that suggests significant improvements need to be made that may lead to teacher dismissal or non-reemployment of a teacher, or when an administrator identifies poor performance or conduct the administrator believes may lead to a recommendation for termination, the administrator should admonish the teacher in writing and make reasonable effort to assist the teacher in correcting the performance or conduct.

Teacher improvement plans, also referred to as educator improvement plans, are co-written documents between a teacher who has displayed deficiencies in his or her job and the school's administrator. There is no standard format for teacher improvement plans; they can vary by district or even by principal. The fundamental objective of these plans is to provide support to the struggling teacher by identifying his or her weaknesses and then develop a strategy for growth. Use these steps to compose an educator improvement plan.

1

Identify and discuss the educator’s strengths and weaknesses.

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Talk about problems detected in past classroom evaluations and how those issues were not improved upon subsequently. Report on specific situations and in which the teacher displayed a lack of proficiency. Review letters of complaint addressed to the teacher from students, other teachers, administrators or parents. Recognize the teacher's strengths as a way to show encouragement that he or she can and will improve with the right strategy employed.

2

Write down the areas that need improvement.

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Create concise, yet detailed notes about what the teacher could do better. For example, if the teacher is having difficulty disciplining their students, write "Classroom behavior management" as an area that needs improvement.^{[1]
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3

Formulate detailed steps to remedy each problem area.

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For example, if a teacher is having difficulties with classroom behavior management, a set of action steps could look like this: "1) Shadow another educator within the same grade who displays excellent classroom behavior management, 2) Participate in an informative workshop, 3) Create an individual discipline plan for your classroom, 4) Implement your plan."^{[2]
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4

Determine how improvement will be measured.

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Come to an agreement with the teacher about the evidence necessary to prove progress. With the behavior example, a fair measurement might be a decrease in students sent to the principal's office or a decrease in unruliness during classroom observations.^{[3]
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5

Name a specific timeline for completion of an area for improvement.

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Discuss this with the teacher, and notify them of the consequences if they do not improve within the agreed upon timeline. Make sure the teacher is aware of and understands the timeframe.

6

Provide the teacher with a list of helpful resources.

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Include in-school mentors, teacher improvement centers, and handbooks that might be helpful. Be willing to answer any questions the teacher may have or direct them to someone who has the answers they need.

7

Sign and date the teacher improvement plan.

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Be sure to read over the plan together after the draft is complete. Make sure you both understand all the details before signing. Remember to make copies of the plan, as well.^{[4]
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What is teacher improvement?

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Teacher improvement is basically the list of cons and pros (disadvantages and advantages). They have to make a schedule for the class (For example, the math teacher improves the math while you get to a higher grade).

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Tips

Allow the teacher days off in order to observe other classrooms, participate in workshops and take courses to improve.

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Include 1 or 2 benchmarks within the plan along the way to the deadline. With the inclusion of benchmarks, teachers can track their own progress toward their goal before their time is up.

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Warnings

Do not create teacher improvement plans as a first step. Teachers should be adequately notified of their perceived deficiencies prior to the teacher improvement plan.

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