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IMPACT Review Findings

In October 2019, Chancellor Ferebee announced a comprehensive, multiyear review of the IMPACT evaluation and feedback system, informed by the feedback he received from DCPS staff and a commitment to ensuring that our teachers have the foundational supports to succeed and continue to be held to consistent, high standards. Over the course of the IMPACT Review, DCPS has engaged over 4,000 stakeholders—teachers, school leaders, students, and families—in providing input; conducted research and analysis of IMPACT data; consulted with multiple internal and external advisory groups, including national experts in education; and partnered with American University’s School of Education to provide an independent perspective through teacher interviews. 

The findings shared on this page reflect the aim of the Review to examine the IMPACT landscape, particularly to better understand where improvements can be made and to share those learnings with DCPS stakeholders. DCPS will continue to gather and analyze feedback and data related to IMPACT—and will continue to consider evolutions to IMPACT across future years. 

This page offers a library of IMPACT Review data and analysis to date. Key high-level findings from DCPS include: 

  • There is wide variation in the perceptions of IMPACT across the DCPS community, from strongly positive to strongly negative. 
  • In the Insight survey, a majority of teachers (60% in Fall 2021, up from 54% in Fall 2019) felt that IMPACT helped their growth to some extent. However, there was strong consensus among teachers and school leaders that IMPACT had meaningful areas of improvement to support teacher growth.
  • In particular, teachers and school leaders expressed valuing the required informal observation opportunity in recent years.
  • A significant number of teachers experienced stress and/or anxiety regarding outcomes with respect to IMPACT.
  • Many teachers, particularly those new to DCPS, did not feel they had a clear understanding of IMPACT and wanted more opportunities to learn about IMPACT and its accompanying systems.
  • DCPS district retention of teachers has increased since the start of IMPACT, from 77.8 percent in 2009-10 to 85.3 percent in 2018-19, and an average annual district retention rate of 89.0% during the two recent pandemic years. In recent years, 94-96% of Highly Effective teachers have returned to DCPS from one year to the next in recent years. Based on reviewed feedback from exit surveys and Insight, Effective and Highly Effective rated teachers rarely cite IMPACT as their reason for leaving in recent years.
  • DCPS analysis found disparate outcomes between white teachers and teachers of color. See Equity Review memo for more information. 

IMPACT Review Findings Library

Data and analysis from the IMPACT Review to date are now accessible through the links below. 

Summaries of Findings by DCPS 

Note that each document includes a summary of key findings for each section. 

IMPACT Results Data Analysis 

  • Equity Review memo (Published August 2021): Applies an equity review to IMPACT results by race, gender and other teacher and school characteristics. 
  • Essential Practices/Supporting Growth memo (Published August 2021): Summarizes results related to the Essential Practices and the extent to which teacher growth is observed in IMPACT results.
  • Teacher Retention memo (Published August 2021): Examines teacher retention trends over time, and by various teacher and school characteristics. 
  • Performance-Based Compensation memo (Published August 2021): Summarizes how IMPACTplus bonuses and the LIFT-based salary increases affect teacher compensation. 

 

Stakeholder Perceptions  

  • Insight Survey Results  (Published July 2022): Includes aggregate results from custom IMPACT Review questions on the Fall 2021 Insight Survey.
  • Insight Survey Results (Published August 2021): Includes aggregate results from custom IMPACT Review questions on the Fall 2019, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 Insight Surveys.
  • DCPS Journey Map Interviews Analysis (Published August 2021): Contains preliminary findings from DCPS teacher interviews about the IMPACT experience. 

Findings from American University School of Education (Published August 2021)

The American University findings report -- Perspectives on DCPS IMPACT Teacher Evaluation System: Findings from Teachers and School Leaders--includes analysis from 46 DCPS teacher interviews, school leader surveys and focus groups, and IMPACT data analysis. 

If you have questions about the IMPACT Review, please reference this FAQ document. 

Related - Evolutions to IMPACT (as a result of the IMPACT Review)