Teacher Qualifications & Evaluations (APPR & ESSA)

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) | Teacher Qualifications (ESSA)

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) is the process by which teachers and principals are evaluated in New York State. The purpose of APPR is to empower educators to improve the quality of instruction in schools and, in turn, to improve students’ performance and readiness for colleges and careers. APPR plans must meet strict state guidelines and are negotiated with local unions.

Under state guidelines, APPR takes into account classroom observations, student test scores, and a variety of achievement and assessment measures – many of which are decided at the local level. Teachers and principals across New York ultimately receive a number grade every year, which equates to an effectiveness rating.

View the Potsdam Central School District APPR Plan on the NYSED website.

View Policy 9420.1: Building Principal and Classroom Teacher Evaluation.

Requesting Teacher/Principal APPR Scores

Parents or legal guardians are able to request the final quality ratings of their child’s current teacher(s) and principal. To do so, they should schedule an in-person appointment with the building principal.

Before releasing the ratings, school officials are legally required to verify the requester’s identity and legal guardianship, which may involve requesting photo identification. Upon receiving the ratings, parents or guardians can request an oral or written explanation to understand how the ratings relate to teacher evaluation and student performance.

Teacher Qualifications (ESSA)

New York State Education Department (NYSED) has created a process for resolving complaints alleging that a local educational agency (LEA), grantee or NYSED has violated a law, rule, or regulation in the administration of any “covered Federal program” under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

These procedures offer parents and other stakeholders a process to file complaints and allow for the timely resolution of such complaints. A complainant may include any of the following: parents, public agencies, and other individuals or organizations.

Learn more about ESSA complaint procedures and how to file a complaint.

View NYSED Fact Sheets about ESSA.