Arkansas Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS)
Arkansas TESS is the state's mandated teacher evaluation system, built on the Danielson Framework for Teaching. It organizes teacher performance into four domains and uses a four-level rubric. TESS emphasizes professional growth through a cycle of planning, observation, and reflection.
The Arkansas TESS is organized into 4 domains, 22 criteria, and a 4-level rating scale.
Mandated statewide in Arkansas for all public school districts.
Domains and Criteria
The Arkansas TESS domains and criteria
Domain 1: Planning and Preparation
Demonstrating knowledge of content and pedagogy, knowing students, setting instructional outcomes, and designing coherent instruction.
1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
1b: Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
1c: Setting Instructional Outcomes
1d: Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
1e: Designing Coherent Instruction
1f: Designing Student Assessments
Domain 2: The Classroom Environment
Creating an environment of respect and rapport, establishing a culture for learning, and managing classroom procedures and behavior.
2a: Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
2b: Establishing a Culture for Learning
2c: Managing Classroom Procedures
2d: Managing Student Behavior
2e: Organizing Physical Space
Domain 3: Instruction
Communicating with students, using questioning and discussion techniques, engaging students in learning, and demonstrating flexibility.
3a: Communicating with Students
3b: Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
3c: Engaging Students in Learning
3d: Using Assessment in Instruction
3e: Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness
Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
Reflecting on teaching, maintaining accurate records, communicating with families, and participating in a professional community.
4a: Reflecting on Teaching
4b: Maintaining Accurate Records
4c: Communicating with Families
4d: Participating in a Professional Community
4e: Growing and Developing Professionally
4f: Showing Professionalism
Rating Levels
Arkansas TESS rating levels
Source
Official Arkansas TESS source
Source: Arkansas Department of Education / Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Teacher Rubric (2023-10-12). Verified 2026-06-01. View the official rubric
Rubric facts verified 2026-06-01 against the official source.
Giving feedback on the Arkansas TESS
The slow part is the write-up
Aligning observation evidence to every Arkansas TESS 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 Arkansas TESS feedback in seconds
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to the right Arkansas TESS 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.
- Organizes observation notes by the four Arkansas TESS domains and components
- Generates evidence-based feedback aligned to the TESS four-level rubric
- Maps evidence from your notes to specific TESS indicators
- Creates targeted next steps tied to specific TESS components
- Reduces post-observation write-up time for Arkansas principals
Frequently Asked Questions
Arkansas TESS FAQ
- What is the TESS?
- Statewide K-12 teacher observation and evaluation rubric used within Arkansas's Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS), organized across four domains of professional practice.
- What are the domains of the TESS?
- The TESS is organized into 4 domains: Planning and Preparation, The Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities.
- How is the TESS scored?
- Performance is rated on a 4-level scale: Unsatisfactory, Progressing, Effective, and Highly Effective.
- What does TESS stand for?
- TESS stands for Arkansas Teacher Excellence and Support System.
- Which version of the Arkansas TESS rubric is current?
- The current rubric is the Arkansas Teacher Rubric (October 12, 2023 revision), built on the Danielson Framework for Teaching and verified against the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education source on June 1, 2026.
Used In
States Using Arkansas TESS
Related Reading
Arkansas TESS 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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Ready to streamline your Arkansas TESS observations?
Start generating framework-aligned feedback in seconds.