Indiana RISE Teacher Evaluation Software
Run RISE evaluations across the Teacher Effectiveness Rubric domains of Planning, Instruction, and Leadership, aligned to Indiana's model and built for trained evaluators.
RISE is the entry point, not the whole story. In EX in Education, RISE evaluations connect to coaching, goals, PD, and retention, so every educator moves from hired to thriving.
RISE Classroom Observation
In short: RISE is Indiana's model teacher evaluation system; the current version is RISE 3.0. The Teacher Effectiveness Rubric has three scored domains, Planning, Instruction, and Leadership, plus a separate Core Professionalism domain. Districts that adopt RISE assign one of four ratings: Highly Effective, Effective, Improvement Necessary, or Ineffective, but since 2025 (HEA 1002) Indiana no longer requires those four statewide designations, and each school corporation adopts its own annual evaluation plan. Under RISE 3.0, Student Learning Objectives are no longer required.
Run this in your district
Reviewed for 2026-27 state requirements. Configure EX to your district's local process, or start from a ready-made observation form.
Indiana's RISE 3.0 Evaluation Framework
RISE is Indiana's recommended model for measuring teacher effectiveness. Its Teacher Effectiveness Rubric organizes practice into three domains, Planning, Instruction, and Leadership, plus Core Professionalism. In EX in Education, that rubric is the doorway into a connected system for coaching, PD, and retention.
Three Domains, 19 Competencies
The Teacher Effectiveness Rubric spans 19 competencies across three domains, each pre-configured in EX so evaluators score against Indiana's rubric without rebuilding forms.
- Domain 1: Planning, weighted 10 percent
- Domain 2: Instruction, weighted 75 percent
- Domain 3: Leadership, weighted 15 percent
- Core Professionalism as a separate check
A State Model, Not a Mandate
Indiana Code requires every school corporation to run an annual evaluation, but districts may adopt RISE in full or use a comparable local system. Under RISE 3.0, Student Learning Objectives are no longer required.
- Adopt RISE or bring your own rubric
- SLOs optional under version 3.0
- Summative can be 100 percent rubric-based
- Districts keep local control of the plan
Complete RISE Framework Coverage
Every RISE domain and its competencies are pre-built in EX in Education, so Indiana evaluators can observe, score, and generate evidence against the Teacher Effectiveness Rubric from day one.
Planning
Five competencies covering how teachers plan rigorous, standards-based instruction.
- 1.1 Utilize assessment data to plan
- 1.2 Set ambitious and measurable achievement goals
- 1.3 Develop standards-based unit plans and assessments
- 1.4 Create objective-driven lesson plans and assessments
- 1.5 Track student data and analyze progress
Instruction
Nine competencies covering instruction as it happens, the most heavily weighted domain.
- 2.1 Develop student understanding and mastery of objectives
- 2.2 Demonstrate and communicate content knowledge
- 2.3 Engage students in academic content
- 2.4 Check for understanding
- 2.5 Modify instruction as needed
- 2.6 Develop higher-level understanding through rigor
- 2.7 Maximize instructional time
- 2.8 Create a culture of respect and collaboration
- 2.9 Set high expectations for academic success
Leadership
Five competencies covering a teacher's contribution beyond the classroom.
- 3.1 Contribute to school culture
- 3.2 Collaborate with peers
- 3.3 Seek professional skills and knowledge
- 3.4 Advocate for student success
- 3.5 Engage families in student learning
Core Professionalism
The non-negotiable expectations of the job, scored as Meets Standard or Does Not Meet Standards.
- Attendance
- On-time arrival
- Policies and procedures
- Respect
Extended Observations
- • Minimum 40 minutes in duration
- • Minimum two per year for all teachers, at least one per semester
- • May be announced or unannounced
- • Post-conference with written and oral feedback within 5 school days
Short Observations
- • About 10 minutes each
- • Unannounced
- • Minimum three per year for all teachers
- • Written feedback within 2 business days
Evaluator training: Under Indiana Code, only trained evaluators may conduct performance evaluations, and districts run annual calibration so ratings stay valid and consistent. EX tracks extended and short observations together, with reminders so districts stay on cycle, whether they adopt RISE or a comparable local plan.
RISE Performance Ratings, Tracked Over Time
RISE produces one of four final ratings. EX in Education records each rating, ties it to the evidence behind it, and carries it forward so growth is visible from one cycle to the next.
Highly Effective
Consistently exceeds expectations and models excellent practice
Effective
Consistently meets expectations and demonstrates proficient practice
Improvement Necessary
Approaching expectations and needs support in some areas
Ineffective
Consistently below expectations and requires intensive support
Under RISE, every teacher receives a minimum of two extended observations a year, at least one per semester, alongside short observations. Teachers rated Improvement Necessary or Ineffective move onto a remediation plan of up to 90 school days that draws on their license renewal credits. EX in Education keeps each teacher's rating history, observation cycle, and remediation plans in one place, and routes the ones who need support into coaching cycles so a rating leads to next steps, not just a score.
Built for Indiana's Evaluation Process
EX in Education gives Indiana districts what they need to run RISE aligned to state guidance, then connects that evidence to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every school.
RISE-Aligned Forms
Observation forms pre-built for all three domains and their competencies, on the RISE four-level scale.
- • Every competency included
- • 4-level rating scale
- • Evidence collection tools
Observation Cycles
Manage extended RISE observations alongside short observations, with scheduling and reminders in one connected system.
- • Extended observations
- • Short observations
- • Cycle reminders
Weighted Scoring
Reflect Indiana's rubric weighting, with Instruction carrying the most weight and Core Professionalism handled as a separate check.
- • Planning, Instruction, Leadership
- • Domain weighting applied
- • Summative rating in one record
Coaching Handoff
Turn what an observation surfaces into a coaching cycle, so feedback leads to real support instead of a filed form.
- • Evidence to coaching
- • Structured feedback
- • Follow-up visits
Evaluator Records
Track which evaluators are trained and which teachers they are assigned, so evaluations stay valid across every building.
- • Training records
- • Calibration support
- • Assignment by school
Growth Goals
Set professional goals tied to what the evaluation surfaced, tracked in the same module that follows a teacher across the year.
- • Goal setting tools
- • Progress tracking
- • Linked to PD
Why Indiana Districts Run RISE Inside EX in Education
Run RISE compliantly, then use what the evaluation surfaces to actually grow and keep your teachers. Evaluation is the doorway. Educator growth and retention is the product.
Less admin, more coaching
Structured workflows and feedback tools free evaluators to spend more of their time in coaching conversations, not paperwork.
Consistent across schools
Consistent rubrics and processes help evaluators score consistently, whether it is one building or the whole corporation.
Growth you can see
Ratings, goals, and coaching history sit together, so progress is visible over time instead of scattered across files.
Retention, not just ratings
When feedback connects to PD, goals, and support, teachers keep developing, and districts keep the ones they worked hard to hire.
How AI Supports RISE Evaluations
AI in EX in Education helps evaluators work through RISE faster while keeping every judgment in human hands. It drafts and organizes, evaluators decide.
Draft Feedback From Evidence
Turn observation notes into clear, competency-aligned feedback that the evaluator reviews and edits before it is shared.
Organize Evidence by Competency
Sort notes and artifacts against the RISE competencies, so nothing is missed when it is time to score.
Suggest Growth Next Steps
Surface coaching moves and PD ideas tied to what an observation revealed, ready for the evaluator to assign.
Bring RISE Into the Bigger Picture
See how EX in Education runs RISE aligned to Indiana's guidance, then connects evaluations to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every school.
Tracking license renewal too? Indiana professional development and renewal requirements.
Built for RISE. Bring your own rubric, or start from ours. Connected to coaching, PD, and goals.
Indiana RISE: frequently asked questions
What is RISE, and which version is current?
RISE is Indiana's model teacher evaluation system. The current version is RISE 3.0. Indiana Code requires every school corporation to run an annual evaluation, and districts may adopt RISE in full or use a comparable local system.
How is the RISE rubric structured?
The RISE Teacher Effectiveness Rubric has three scored domains, Planning, Instruction, and Leadership, plus a separate Core Professionalism domain scored as Meets Standard or Does Not Meet Standards. Instruction is the most heavily weighted domain.
What are the RISE rating levels?
Under the RISE model, a teacher receives one of four final ratings: Highly Effective, Effective, Improvement Necessary, or Ineffective. Since 2025 (HEA 1002), Indiana no longer requires these four statewide designations; each school corporation adopts its own annual evaluation plan, and many continue to use the RISE ratings.
Are Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) still required in Indiana?
No. Under RISE 3.0, Student Learning Objectives are no longer required. Districts may still choose to include student learning measures, but they are not mandated by the state model.
Part of EX in Education
One piece of the educator experience.
Indiana RISE evaluations are one part of how districts support educators. In EX in Education, they connect to the bigger picture: walkthroughs, coaching, evaluations, goals, PD, recognition, surveys, and retention. Bring your own process, or start from a template, then run it across every school so every educator moves from hired to thriving.