SAFE-T Steps to Consensus

SAFE-T Consensus Step 1 At the end of each evaluation period (i.e., preliminary and final), each evaluator conducts an independent review of the dossier and completes a SAFE-T Summary (ET3).

SAFE-T Consensus Step 2 The entire evaluation team attends the consensus meeting. Each evaluator must bring his or her completed ET3 to the meeting.

SAFE-T Consensus Step 3 Beginning with the first key element (1.A), each evaluator indicates by voice vote whether he or she judged the key element to be “met” or “not met.” During this step, there is no discussion. The evaluator merely states his or her judgment regarding the key element.

SAFE-T Consensus Step 3 The team chair records the voice vote as follows: All evaluators agree that the key element is met. All evaluators agree that the key element is not met. The evaluators do not agree on a judgment.

SAFE-T Consensus Step 3 The process is continued until the voice votes for all 34 key elements have been obtained. Those key elements judged by both (all) team members to be met are set aside at this time.

SAFE-T Consensus Step 4 The chair identifies the key elements that all evaluators agreed were not met. For each key element, the team reaches consensus regarding specific reasons for each “not met” decision. Specificity is important so that useful feedback can be provided to the teacher.

SAFE-T Consensus Step 5 The chair identifies the key elements about which the team disagreed. Beginning with the first of these key elements, the team engages in discussion until consensus is reached. If consensus is reached that the key element is “not met,” the team prepares a detailed rationale that supports this judgment (refer back to Step 4).

SAFE-T Consensus Step 5 If the team is unable to reach consensus, another evaluator should be called upon to review the dossier and help adjudicate the disagreement.

SAFE-T Consensus Step 6 The consensus-based SAFE-T summary (ET3) is prepared, then is signed by all evaluation team members. The signature of each evaluation team member verifies that the evaluation process was conducted appropriately, the evaluator participated in making all judgments, and the evaluator agrees with the judgments.

SAFE-T Consensus At the conclusion of the consensus meeting, the independently prepared SAFE-T Summaries (ET3s) are destroyed. The consensus-based SAFE-T Summary (ET3) becomes the official report for the evaluation period.

SAFE-T Consensus The SAFE-T Evaluation Summary (ET3) that is prepared at the end of the preliminary evaluation period serves as a “progress report” to the teacher. The SAFE-T Evaluation Summary (ET3) that is prepared at the end of the final evaluation period becomes the report of record.