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Marzano Teacher Evaluation in
Minnesota — Locally Adopted, Built
for TDE Compliance.

Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 122A.40, and § 122A.41 for cities of the first class) requires each district and its teachers’ union to jointly develop a local Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) model — or default to the state’s TDE plan. There’s no state-approved framework list, which means your local model needs a rubric your evaluators and your union both trust.

The Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model (FTEM) is one of the two frameworks Minnesota districts turn to most, alongside Danielson. The Marzano Evaluation Center provides the crosswalk documentation, professional development, and iObservation software that help your joint committee design a compliant model — without starting from a blank page.

State Framework

Local TDE Model (MDE)

Minnesota requires each district and its teachers' union to jointly develop a local Teacher Development and Evaluation model, or default to the state's TDE plan. There is no state-approved framework list.

Framework Used in MN

Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model (FTEM)

MDE guidance identifies Marzano and Danielson as the frameworks used by the "overwhelming majority" of Minnesota's locally developed TDE models.

Adoption Pathway

Joint District-Union Agreement

Your school board and your teachers' exclusive representative adopt the model together by joint agreement — no state application or waiver process required.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Minnesota TDE
Crosswalk

A complete alignment document showing how the Marzano FTEM elements map to Minnesota’s Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) statutory requirements — ready to bring to your stakeholders including your school board, and your union.

Three Steps to a Locally Adopted,
Union-agreed Model.

Because Minnesota requires joint development between your district and your teachers’ union, adoption looks a little different than in approved-list states. Here’s what it looks like from here.

01

Download the crosswalk and bring it to your joint committee

The crosswalk illustrates how FTEM satisfies Minnesota’s TDE statutory requirements — giving your joint district-union committee a documented starting point instead of building a model from scratch.

02

Talk to a Marzano Evaluation Center specialist about your district’s context

We’ll review your current TDE plan, your timeline, and your PD needs — and help you implement a model your union will support.

03

Implement with framework, PD and software working together

The Marzano Evaluation Center provides the FTEM framework research, supports evaluator and teacher professional development and brings it all together with our iObservation software.

Framework · PD · Software —
built for MN’s TDE process

Unlike vendors who provide only a rubric, MEC delivers all three components of a working evaluation system — designed to help your joint committee reach agreement and stay compliant with Minnesota’s TDE statute with a focus on achieving your goals.

What’s Included

The Full Marzano Evaluation System — Aligned to Minnesota's TDE Process.

Your local Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) model covers teacher evaluation but what about your leaders and support staff? The Marzano Evaluation Center also offers models for school leaders, district leaders, and instructional support staff — bringing the same research-based framework and shared language to every certified role in your district. The result: one coherent system across all employee groups.

Teacher working with students in a classroom

Focused Teacher Evaluation Model (FTEM)

23 elements · 4 domains · 1 definition of success · Layered across Minnesota's locally developed TDE frameworks. One of the two models MDE identifies as dominant statewide.

Explore FTEM
District leaders reviewing evaluation data together

2018 District Leader Evaluation Model

20 elements · 6 domains · 1 definition of success · The only district leader model built as part of an integrated system — connecting superintendent actions to principal effectiveness and student outcomes.

Explore District Leader Model
School leader greeting students in a hallway

Focused School Leader Evaluation Model

21 elements · 6 domains · 1 definition of success · Aligned directly with teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. Evaluates principals on operational responsibilities as well as instructional leadership behaviors research shows actually move student outcomes.

Explore School Leader Model
iObservation software dashboard showing a building's score distribution

iObservation Software

Built for the Marzano models and configured to support Minnesota's three-year review cycle out of the box — real-time walkthroughs, formal and informal observations, scoring calibration for accuracy, inter-rater agreement for reliability, growth plans, and districtwide reporting.

Explore iObservation

Ready to Bring Marzano to Your Minnesota District?

Talk with a specialist about your TDE timeline, your union agreement process, and your current evaluation setup. We'll help you build a model that satisfies Minnesota's statutory requirements — and one your joint committee supports.

Talk with an Expert

Is Your Evaluation System Driving Growth - or Just Documenting?

8 questions across 6 areas. Score yourself 1-4. Start the conversation with your leadership team.

Take the 5-min diagnostic