Background on Why We Will Investigate Charlotte Danielson’s Framework

Franklin CUSD #1 and the Learning Technology Hub have been involved in a 3-year grant. Much of the focus of this grant has been on best practices in teaching. Specific and intensive training was provided on the work of Charlotte Danielson. Her framework for professional practice is a research-based definition of effective teaching. It organizes all aspects of what teachers know and do within 4 domains:

1. Planning and Preparation

2. Classroom Environment

3. Instruction

4. Professional Responsibilities.

Domains 2 and 3 are observable during teaching, while Domains 1 and 4 are usually performed outside the classroom. The research base is the same research that informed the National Board’s Teacher Certification process.

The framework recognizes the complexity of teaching and reports that “a teacher makes over 3,000 nontrivial decisions daily.”

Some Background:

The way in which students learn is constantly being re-examined. Madeline Hunter developed a teaching model in the 1070’s. Hunter advocated instruction including various learning styles with a teacher-centered, structured classroom. Hunter used a specific set of steps for each lesson to follow. This model allowed for a low level of knowledge to be tested.

In the past thirty years, research has provided new information on student learning. Multiple intelligences, collaborative learning and authentic engaged learning are among the considerations that should be observed in today’s classrooms (Danielson, 1966). The challenge for administrators and teachers involves using the research on learning to implement these practices into the classroom to improve student achievement.

Danielson’s Framework is a researched based model that includes all aspects of teaching. The author, Charlotte Danielson, is a teacher and researcher. She worked for Educational Testing Service (ETS) on the development of the PRAXIS III. This is a framework on assessing the teaching skills and classroom performance for state agencies. She continued her research with ETS and developed the Framework for Teaching in 1996. Her framework is based on careful and complete research.

The Danielson Framework has been adopted by a number of progressive and well-respected schools. The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) in Chicago is a teacher preparation program that identifies outstanding teacher leaders. These selected teacher leaders are placed in under-performing Chicago public schools to have a positive impact on their students. The AUSL has adopted the Danielson Framework as the standard for its program (AUSL, 2002). Iowa public schools have worked with Danielson to design a tool for professional growth and self assessment, A Framework for Understanding the Iowa Teaching Standards and Criteria (isea.org, 2003).

The Danielson Framework has been endorsed by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum (ASCD), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

During the 2005-2006 school year, CUSD #1 will study the Danielson Framework during its 2:00 dismissal in-service program.