5D+ Rubric for Instructional Growth
Developed by the Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) at the University of Washington, the 5D+ Rubric is one of three state-approved teacher evaluation frameworks in Washington. It organizes effective teaching into six dimensions with a strong focus on instructional improvement, student engagement, and equitable practice.
The 5D+ is organized into 6 domains, 30 criteria, and a 4-level rating scale.
One of three approved TPEP evaluation frameworks in Washington state, also used in select districts nationally.
Domains and Criteria
The 5D+ domains and criteria
Purpose
- Learning target(s) connected to standards
- Lessons connected to previous and future lessons, broader purpose and transferable skill
- Design of performance task
- Communication of learning target(s)
- Success criteria
Student Engagement
- Quality of questioning
- Ownership of learning
- Capitalizing on students' strengths
- Opportunity and support for participation and meaning making
- Student talk
Curriculum & Pedagogy
- Alignment of instructional materials and tasks
- Teacher knowledge of content
- Discipline-specific teaching approaches
- Differentiated instruction for students
- Use of scaffolds
Assessment for Student Learning
- Student self-assessment
- Student use of formative assessments over time
- Quality of formative assessment methods
- Teacher use of formative assessments
- Collection systems for formative assessment data
Classroom Environment & Culture
- Classroom arrangement and resources
- Learning routines
- Use of learning time
- Student status
- Norms for learning
Professional Collaboration & Communication
- Collaboration with peers and administrators to improve student learning
- Communication and collaboration with parents and guardians
- Communication within the school community about student progress
- Support of school, district and state curricula, policies and initiatives
- Ethics and advocacy
Rating Levels
5D+ rating levels
Giving feedback on the 5D+
The slow part is the write-up
Aligning observation evidence to every 5D+ domain and standard by hand, for every teacher and every visit, is what eats a principal's week. Observation Copilot does that mapping for you.
How Observation Copilot Helps
AI-powered 5D+ feedback in seconds
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to the right 5D+ domains and drafts structured, rubric-aligned feedback - ready to review and share. Walkthrough notes return a focused single-indicator debrief; full lesson observations return a multi-domain rubric-aligned report.
- Maps observation notes to the six 5D+ dimensions and sub-dimensions
- Generates evidence-based feedback organized by Purpose, Student Engagement, Curriculum & Pedagogy, Assessment for Student Learning, Classroom Environment & Culture, and Professional Collaboration & Communication
- Suggests rubric levels based on observed indicators across the four-point scale
- Creates targeted next steps tied to specific 5D+ sub-dimensions
- Reduces post-observation write-up time for Washington principals
Frequently Asked Questions
5D+ FAQ
- What is the 5D+ Rubric for Instructional Growth?
- A teacher evaluation rubric developed by the Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) at the University of Washington, and one of three state-approved evaluation frameworks in Washington. It organizes effective teaching into 6 dimensions rated on a 4-level scale.
- What are the dimensions of the 5D+ rubric?
- The 5D+ rubric has 6 dimensions: Purpose, Student Engagement, Curriculum & Pedagogy, Assessment for Student Learning, Classroom Environment & Culture, and Professional Collaboration & Communication.
- What does 5D+ stand for?
- 5D+ refers to CEL's 5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning; the plus adds a sixth dimension, Professional Collaboration & Communication, used for teacher evaluation.
- What are the 5D+ rating levels?
- Practice is rated on a 4-level scale: Unsatisfactory, Basic, Proficient, and Distinguished.
Used In
States Using 5D+
Related Reading
5D+ Resources for Principals
50 Teacher Observation Feedback Examples (Organized by Framework Domain)
50 specific teacher observation feedback examples organized by framework domain, each tied to evidence and a next step principals can use.
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FFT, T-TESS, Marzano, or Your Own: How Observation Copilot Aligns to Any Framework
Whether you use Danielson FFT, T-TESS, Marzano, or a custom rubric, Observation Copilot aligns feedback to your framework.
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Walkthroughs vs. Formal Observations: When Each One Helps and When It Hurts
Walkthroughs and formal observations serve different purposes. Here's how principals balance both in a coaching cycle that actually grows teachers.
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Writing Better Observation Notes: Tips for Getting the Most Out of AI-Powered Feedback
AI-generated feedback is only as good as your observation notes. Practical tips for writing notes that produce better, more specific results.
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The Post-Observation Conversation: How to Make the 15 Minutes After Feedback Count
Delivering feedback is only half the job. Here's how to structure the post-observation conversation so teachers grow from it.
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