Iowa Teaching Standards Evaluation Software
Run standards-based evaluations across all 8 Iowa Teaching Standards and their 42 criteria, aligned to Iowa Code 284 and built for approved evaluators.
Evaluation is the entry point, not the whole story. In EX in Education, Iowa Teaching Standards evaluations connect to coaching, goals, PD, and retention, so every educator moves from hired to thriving.
Iowa Standards Observation
Iowa's Standards-Based Evaluation Framework
Iowa evaluates teachers against the eight Iowa Teaching Standards defined in Iowa Code 284, each broken into specific criteria. It is a locally implemented, evidence-based system rather than a single statewide scored rubric. In EX in Education, that framework is the doorway into a connected system for coaching, PD, and retention.
8 Standards, 42 Criteria
The Iowa Teaching Standards organize teacher practice across eight standards, each with its own criteria, 42 in all. Every standard is pre-configured in EX so evaluators gather evidence against Iowa's criteria without rebuilding forms.
- Eight Iowa Teaching Standards from Iowa Code 284.3
- 42 criteria distributed across the standards
- Foundation for comprehensive evaluations and PD plans
Evidence, Not a Statewide Score
Iowa does not prescribe a single scored statewide rubric. Evaluators gather evidence and, in professional conversation with the teacher, determine whether practice meets each standard and district expectations. EX keeps that evidence organized against every standard.
- Evidence gathered against the standards and criteria
- Evidence for one criterion can support others
- Local expectations layered on top of the standards
- Districts define their own approach within the framework
Complete Iowa Teaching Standards Coverage
All eight Iowa Teaching Standards and their criteria are pre-built in EX in Education, so Iowa evaluators can observe, gather evidence, and document practice against the state framework from day one.
Student Achievement Goals
Demonstrates the ability to enhance academic performance and support the implementation of the district's student achievement goals.
Content Knowledge
Demonstrates competence in the content knowledge appropriate to the teaching position.
Planning and Preparation
Demonstrates competence in planning and preparing for instruction.
Instructional Strategies
Uses strategies to deliver instruction that meets the multiple learning needs of students.
Monitoring Student Learning
Uses a variety of methods to monitor student learning.
Classroom Management
Demonstrates competence in classroom management.
Professional Growth
Engages in ongoing professional growth.
Professional Responsibilities
Fulfills the professional responsibilities established by the school district.
Beginning Teachers
- • Two-year mentoring and induction program
- • Support aligned to the Iowa Teaching Standards
- • Comprehensive evaluation to demonstrate the standards
- • Path to a standard license and career status
Career Teachers
- • Performance review at least once every three years
- • Summative, based on the Iowa Teaching Standards
- • Local expectations layered on the standards
- • Ongoing individual professional development plan
Approved evaluators: Iowa expects evaluations to be conducted by administrators who have completed the state's evaluator approval training. EX tracks formal evaluations and walkthroughs together, with reminders so beginning-teacher and career-teacher cycles stay on schedule.
A Standards-Based System, Tracked Over Time
Iowa is a locally implemented, standards-based system. Rather than assign a single statewide score, evaluators document evidence against each of the eight standards. EX in Education records that evidence, ties it to the standards behind it, and carries it forward so growth is visible from one cycle to the next.
Gather Evidence
Observations, artifacts, and notes are collected against the standards and criteria.
Professional Conversation
Evaluator and teacher review the evidence and discuss whether practice meets each standard.
Plan Next Steps
The result feeds an individual professional development plan and, where needed, added support.
Because Iowa layers local expectations on top of the state standards, districts define exactly how evidence is gathered and how competence is documented. EX in Education keeps each teacher's evidence, cycle schedule, and professional development plans in one place, and routes the teachers who need support into coaching cycles, so an evaluation leads to next steps, not just a filed form.
Built for Iowa's Evaluation Process
EX in Education gives Iowa districts what they need to run Iowa Teaching Standards evaluations aligned to state requirements, then connects that evidence to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every school.
Standards-Aligned Forms
Observation and evaluation forms pre-built for all 8 Iowa Teaching Standards and their 42 criteria.
- • All eight standards included
- • Criteria under each standard
- • Evidence collection tools
Evaluation Cycles
Manage formal evaluations alongside quick walkthroughs, with scheduling and reminders in one connected system.
- • Beginning-teacher induction
- • Career-teacher performance review
- • Cycle reminders
Evidence by Standard
Organize notes and artifacts against each standard and criterion, so nothing is missed at evaluation time.
- • Tagged to standards and criteria
- • Reusable across criteria
- • Evidence in one record
Coaching Handoff
Turn what an evaluation 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 state-approved and when training renewals are due, so formal evaluations stay valid.
- • Approval records
- • Renewal reminders
- • Assignment by school
Professional Development Plans
Build individual PD plans 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 Iowa Districts Run Evaluations Inside EX in Education
Run Iowa Teaching Standards evaluations 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
Shared standards and processes help evaluators document evidence consistently, whether it is one building or the whole district.
Growth you can see
Evidence, 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 Iowa Teaching Standards Evaluations
AI in EX in Education helps evaluators work through Iowa's standards faster while keeping every judgment in human hands. It drafts and organizes, evaluators decide.
Draft Feedback From Evidence
Turn observation notes into clear, standard-aligned feedback that the evaluator reviews and edits before it is shared.
Organize Evidence by Standard
Sort notes and artifacts against the eight standards and their criteria, so nothing is missed when it is time to document practice.
Suggest Growth Next Steps
Surface coaching moves and PD ideas tied to what an evaluation revealed, ready for the evaluator to assign.
Bring Iowa Evaluations Into the Bigger Picture
See how EX in Education runs Iowa Teaching Standards evaluations aligned to state requirements, then connects them to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every school.
Built for the Iowa Teaching Standards. Bring your own criteria, or start from ours. Connected to coaching, PD, and goals.
Part of EX in Education
One piece of the educator experience.
Iowa Teaching Standards 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.
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