Pennsylvania Teacher Evaluation Software
Run Pennsylvania's Danielson-based Educator Effectiveness evaluations across all 4 domains and 22 components, aligned to Act 13 and built for evaluators.
The Danielson observation is the entry point, not the whole story. In EX in Education, PA evaluations connect to coaching, goals, PD, and retention, so every educator moves from hired to thriving.
Danielson Classroom Observation
In short: Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness system, revised by Act 13 of 2020 and effective for 2021-22, evaluates classroom teachers primarily on observation and practice using a Pennsylvania-adapted Danielson Framework for Teaching. It is organized into four domains: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities, combined with multiple measures of student achievement.
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.
Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness Framework
Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness system, revised under Act 13 and effective the 2021-2022 school year, is built on the Danielson Framework for Teaching. It organizes practice into 4 domains and 22 components and weights observation of professional practice more heavily than before. In EX in Education, that framework is the doorway into a connected system for coaching, PD, and retention.
4 Domains, 22 Components
The Danielson Framework organizes teacher practice across four connected domains, each configured in EX from your district’s approved forms so evaluators score against Pennsylvania's components without rebuilding forms.
- Planning and Preparation
- Classroom Environment
- Instruction
- Professional Responsibilities
Observation and Multiple Measures
Under Act 13, a classroom teacher's overall rating weights Observation and Practice at 70 percent, with up to 30 percent from student performance measures. EX tracks the evidence alongside observation results.
- Observation and Practice weighted at 70 percent
- Building-Level Data as a shared measure
- Teacher-Specific Data where available
- LEA Selected Measures (which may include Student Learning Objectives)
Complete Danielson Framework Coverage
All four Danielson domains and their 22 components are configured in EX in Education from your district’s approved forms, so Pennsylvania evaluators can observe, score, and generate evidence against the state framework from day one.
Planning & Preparation
Six components covering what teachers do before instruction begins.
- 1a. Knowledge of content and pedagogy
- 1b. Knowledge of students
- 1c. Setting instructional outcomes
- 1d. Knowledge of resources
- 1e. Designing coherent instruction
- 1f. Designing student assessments
Classroom Environment
Five components covering culture, relationships, and classroom management.
- 2a. Creating an environment of respect and rapport
- 2b. Establishing a culture for learning
- 2c. Managing classroom procedures
- 2d. Managing student behavior
- 2e. Organizing physical space
Instruction
Five components covering instruction as it happens in the classroom.
- 3a. Communicating with students
- 3b. Using questioning and discussion techniques
- 3c. Engaging students in learning
- 3d. Using assessment in instruction
- 3e. Demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness
Professional Responsibilities
Six components covering reflection, records, communication, and continued growth.
- 4a. Reflecting on teaching
- 4b. Maintaining accurate records
- 4c. Communicating with families
- 4d. Participating in the professional community
- 4e. Growing and developing professionally
- 4f. Showing professionalism
Formal Observations
- • Evidence gathered against the Danielson components
- • Pre-observation and post-observation conferences
- • Temporary professional employees rated at least twice per year
- • Professional employees rated at least once per year
Informal Walkthroughs
- • Typically 5 to 15 minutes
- • Announced or unannounced
- • Brief, timely feedback between formal cycles
- • Number set by district policy
Differentiated supervision: Eligible professional employees rated Proficient or Distinguished may participate in differentiated supervision options, such as self-directed study or peer review, in years between full observations. EX in Education tracks formal observations, walkthroughs, and differentiated supervision plans together, with reminders so districts stay on cycle.
Pennsylvania Ratings, Tracked Over Time
Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness system produces one of four overall 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.
Distinguished
Consistently exceeds expectations and models practice for others
Proficient
Meets expectations and demonstrates solid, effective practice
Needs Improvement
Shows growth potential and needs support in some areas
Failing
Requires significant improvement and intensive support
The overall rating draws on the Danielson four-level scale, where each component is scored Distinguished, Proficient, Basic, or Unsatisfactory. Teachers rated Needs Improvement or Failing are typically supported with improvement plans and mentoring. EX in Education keeps each teacher's rating history, cycle schedule, and improvement 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 Pennsylvania's Evaluation Process
EX in Education gives Pennsylvania districts what they need to run Danielson-based evaluations aligned to Act 13, then connects that evidence to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every school.
Danielson-Aligned Forms
Observation forms configured from your district’s approved instrument, covering all 4 domains and 22 components, on the Danielson rating scale.
- • All 22 components included
- • 4-level rating scale
- • Evidence collection tools
Observation Cycles
Manage formal Danielson observations alongside quick walkthroughs, with scheduling and reminders in one connected system.
- • Formal observations
- • Informal walkthroughs
- • Cycle reminders
Student Performance Measures Tracking
Record the LEA-selected measures (including SLOs where your district uses them) and other student performance measures alongside observation results.
- • LEA-selected measures (including SLOs where used)
- • Evidence in one record
- • District-defined measures
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
Differentiated Supervision
Track which educators are on full observation and which are on differentiated supervision, so every teacher stays on the right cycle.
- • Cycle assignment by educator
- • Self-directed and peer options
- • Cycle reminders
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 Pennsylvania Districts Run Danielson Inside EX in Education
Run Educator Effectiveness 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 district.
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 Danielson Evaluations
AI in EX in Education helps evaluators work through Danielson evaluations faster while keeping every judgment in human hands. It drafts and organizes, evaluators decide.
Draft Feedback From Evidence
Turn observation notes into clear, component-aligned feedback that the evaluator reviews and edits before it is shared.
Organize Evidence by Component
Sort notes and artifacts against the 22 Danielson components, 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 Danielson Into the Bigger Picture
See how EX in Education runs Danielson-based evaluations aligned to Pennsylvania's requirements, then connects evaluations to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every school.
Tracking license renewal too? Pennsylvania professional development and renewal requirements.
Built for Pennsylvania requirements. Bring your district’s approved rubric and we’ll configure it. Connected to coaching, PD, and goals.
Pennsylvania teacher evaluation: frequently asked questions
How does teacher evaluation work in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness system was revised by Act 13 of 2020 and took effect for the 2021-22 school year. Classroom teachers are evaluated primarily on classroom observation and practice, combined with multiple measures of student achievement.
What framework and how many domains does Pennsylvania use?
Classroom teachers are evaluated on a Pennsylvania-adapted version of Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching, organized into four domains: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities. PDE added content such as trauma-informed practice, cultural relevance, and equity and inclusion.
What are the Pennsylvania rating levels?
Under Act 13, teachers are rated Distinguished, Proficient, Needs Improvement, or Failing. No educator can be rated Needs Improvement or Failing based on student test scores alone, and those who earn the two lowest ratings participate in a performance improvement plan.
What else counts toward the rating?
Besides classroom observation and practice, the Act 13 rating incorporates multiple measures of student achievement, which can include building-level data, teacher-specific data such as PVAAS, and elective data, according to state rules.
Part of EX in Education
One piece of the educator experience.
Pennsylvania's Danielson-based 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 and forms, and we’ll run them across every school so every educator moves from hired to thriving.