Marzano Teacher Evaluation in Indiana:
A Board-Adopted Alternative to RISE

Every Indiana school corporation must adopt a plan for annual evaluations of all certificated staff and post it on its website. RISE is the model plan the Indiana Department of Education offers, but districts are not required to use it. Your board can adopt a different model through ordinary board action, with no state application or approval step.

Marzano Evaluation Center provides the RISE crosswalk, an adoption toolkit your team can adapt, and the professional development and iObservation software that make implementation straightforward, from first training through year one.

State Framework

Indiana Staff Performance Evaluation Law (IC 20-28-11.5)

Indiana law requires every school corporation to adopt a plan for annual evaluations of all certificated employees and post it on its website. RISE is the state’s optional model plan. Districts may use it, modify it, or adopt another.

Our Model

Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model

Twenty-three research-based elements across four domains. Our RISE 3.0 crosswalk maps every element, and training, coaching, and iObservation are configured for your district’s plan.

Adoption Pathway

District-selected, board-adopted

Indiana doesn’t approve evaluation models. Your school board adopts the plan, and your district posts it online. Our adoption toolkit helps you brief your board and staff along the way.

THE ADOPTION PROCESS

Four steps from first look to first observation.
All of them happen in your district.

Because Indiana leaves model choice to local boards, there’s no state application to prepare and no approval to wait on. The work is comparing models, building support, and preparing people. We help with every step.

01

Compare the models

Download the RISE crosswalk and review it with your leadership team. Confirm that the Focused Teacher Evaluation Model’s 23 elements address your district’s evaluation goals and fit your instructional vision.

02

Brief your board and staff

Use the board briefing memo and staff discussion guide in our adoption toolkit to explain why you’re considering a change, what it involves, and the timeline. Early conversations with teachers make implementation smoother.

03

Adopt and post your plan

Your board adopts the plan, and your district posts it on its website as state law requires. Our evaluation plan framework gives your team and counsel a starting structure to tailor.

04

Implement with full support

Once adopted, we provide the Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model framework, professional development for observers and teachers, and iObservation software, all configured locally to meet Indiana requirements.

YOUR TWO MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Start with the crosswalk. Use the toolkit to bring your board along.

The crosswalk shows your leadership team how the Focused Teacher Evaluation Model compares to RISE, element by element. The adoption toolkit gives you working drafts of the documents your board and staff will want to see.

CROSSWALK

Indiana RISE
Alignment Crosswalk

A side-by-side comparison of the Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model and Indiana’s RISE 3.0 rubric. Use it to brief your leadership team and board.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Element alignment to RISE 3.0 domains and competencies
Where the Focused Teacher Evaluation Model adds specificity
Research citations supporting the model’s evidence base
iObservation configuration notes for Indiana districts

ADOPTION TOOLKIT

Indiana
Adoption Toolkit

Templates for Indiana districts adopting the Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model in place of RISE, ready for your team to adapt to your district.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Board briefing memo template
Evaluation plan framework aligned to IC 20-28-11.5-4
Teacher and staff discussion guide
Year-one transition plan for moving from RISE
District-specific fill-in sections (highlighted)

WHY INDIANA DISTRICTS SWITCH

Indiana gives districts room to choose.
Here's why districts choose the Focused Teacher Evaluation Model.

Districts that move from RISE to the Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model are usually looking for the same things: more specific feedback for teachers, a shared language between teacher and leader evaluation, and a model built on a deep research base.

23 focused elements give observers specific, usable feedback language
Aligned school leader and district leader models: shared language at every level
Decades of Marzano research, plus validation studies of the model
iObservation software built for the model, not retrofitted from a generic platform
Professional development, coaching, and ongoing implementation support, not just a rubric

“We had a model that was very much compliance driven, and we wanted something that would really look at teachers on where did they want to go. We’ve been using [the Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model] for about five years, and it has really helped us move from a very compliant piece of evaluation to an evaluation system that doesn’t worry about the final score at the end, but more about the teaching and learning in those conversations.”

Amy Dudley, Assistant Superintendent, Carmel Clay Schools, Indiana

INDIANA QUESTIONS

Common Questions from Indiana Districts

Is RISE required in Indiana?

No. RISE is the model evaluation plan offered by the Indiana Department of Education. Indiana law requires each school corporation to develop or adopt an annual evaluation plan for all certificated employees, but districts may choose RISE, modify it, or adopt another plan.

Does the state need to approve a switch from RISE to Marzano?

No state application or approval is involved. Your school board adopts the plan, and your district posts it on its website.

How long does a transition from RISE usually take?

Most districts plan a full school year: board briefing and observer training in the first months, then a phased rollout.

Ready to talk through a move from RISE?

Talk with a specialist about your timeline, board preparation, training, and what year one looks like for an Indiana district your size.

Talk with an Expert

Is Your Evaluation System Driving Growth - or Just Checking Boxes?

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

Take the 5-min diagnostic

Marzano Teacher Evaluation in Indiana: A Board-Adopted Alternative to RISE

Four steps from first look to first observation. All of them happen in your district.

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