About Our Partner

McREL provides educator evaluation systems that support professional growth and use of evidence-based practices.

Integration Description

McREL International is a non-profit education research, development, and service organization dedicated to helping teachers, students, and school leaders thrive. Drawing on research about effective teaching and leadership, McREL has created educator evaluation frameworks that are evidence-based and growth-oriented, supporting collaborative, constructive conversations that support continual professional growth.

Using PowerSchool Perform, customers can access McREL’s evaluation frameworks for teachers, principals, central office instructional leaders, and superintendents.

Our CUES Teacher Evaluation framework is aligned with key research insights from Classroom Instruction That Works and centers on teachers’ depth of knowledge (Content), delivery of high-quality instruction (Understanding), creation of conditions that support learning for all students (Environment), and use of resources to inspire rigorous learning (Support).

Our Balanced Leadership Principal and Balanced Leadership Central Office evaluation frameworks align with extensive analysis of effective school and district leadership practices that matter most for student and staff success. Evaluation components include a focus on instructional leadership, inspiring and managing positive change, and cultivation of a purposeful school community that shares a vision for schoolwide success.

Both systems are validated with field testing and supported with a wealth of professional learning resources. The annual evaluation process includes self-assessment reflections, pre-evaluation conversations to build mutual understanding, mid-year progress checks, and end-of-year conferences to discuss summary ratings and set growth goals.