Components of Effective Teaching (Charter School Tools)
The Components of Effective Teaching (CET) is a charter school teacher evaluation framework developed by Charter School Tools (4th Sector Solutions) and based on the Kim Marshall Teacher Evaluation Rubrics. Designed specifically for charter school operators, it organizes teaching effectiveness across eight sections covering planning, classroom climate, instructional management, content knowledge, student progress, professional work habits, parent and community involvement, and technology. Louisiana charter schools use CET-aligned rubrics to comply with state educator evaluation mandates under Bulletin 130.
The CET is organized into 8 domains and 56 criteria.
Used primarily by charter schools in Louisiana, where state regulations (Bulletin 130) require all LEAs, including charter schools, to conduct educator evaluations aligned to the Louisiana Components of Effective Teaching framework. Charter School Tools provides ready-to-use rubrics to help charter operators meet this mandate.
Domains and Criteria
The CET domains and criteria
Section 1: Planning
- a. Curriculum and Standards
- b. Enduring Understanding Focus
- c. Data-Driven Differentiation
- d. 21st Century Skills Integration
- e. Assessment Method Identification
- f. Resource and Technology Planning
- g. Driving Question Activities
Section 2: Classroom Climate
- a. Safe Learning Environment
- b. Positive Social Interactions
- c. Timely Transitions
- d. High Behavior Expectations
- e. Quality Work Standards
- f. Fair Student Treatment
Section 3: Instructional Management
- a. Posted Instructional Agenda
- b. Previous Material Review
- c. Collaborative Group Work
- d. Developmentally Appropriate Tasks
- e. Higher Level Thinking Skills
- f. Quick Task Engagement
- g. Maximized Time on Task
- h. Effective Activity Transitions
- i. Real-Life Connections
- j. Flexible Instruction Adjustment
- k. Technology Integration
- l. Effective Student Communication
Section 4: Instructional Content Knowledge
- a. Developmentally Appropriate Content
- b. Rigorous and Relevant Content
- c. LCC Consistency
- d. Real-Life Examples
- e. Accurate Question Responses
- f. Subject Content Integration
- g. Appropriate Instructional Strategies
Section 5: Student Progress
- a. Performance Monitoring
- b. Effective Assessment Techniques
- c. Timely Student Feedback
- d. Accurate Student Records
- e. Grading Policy Compliance
- f. Attendance Monitoring
Section 6: Professional Work Habits
- a. Policy and Regulation Adherence
- b. Professional Ethical Conduct
- c. Appropriate Personnel Interactions
- d. Punctual Reporting
- e. Professional Example Setting
- f. Professional Growth Plan
- g. Professional Development Participation
- h. Additional Duties Performance
Section 7: Parent and Community Involvement
- a. Clear Parent and Colleague Communication
- b. Parent Partnership in Education
- c. Community Involvement in Instruction
- d. Community as Learning Resource
Section 8: Technology
- a. Technology Operations Knowledge
- b. Technology-Supported Learning Design
- c. Technology in Curriculum Implementation
- d. Community as Learning Resource
- e. Technology for Assessment
- f. Technology Ethics and Social Issues
Giving feedback on the CET
The slow part is the write-up
Aligning observation evidence to every CET 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 CET feedback in seconds
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to the right CET 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 CET sections automatically across all eight components
- Generates evidence-based summaries for each section and indicator
- Suggests ratings aligned to the 4-level scale (Does Not Meet Standards through Highly Effective)
- Creates targeted next steps tied to specific CET indicators
- Reduces post-observation write-up time from hours to minutes for charter school leaders
Frequently Asked Questions
CET FAQ
- What is the Components of Effective Teaching (CET) framework?
- A charter school teacher evaluation framework developed by Charter School Tools and based on the Kim Marshall Teacher Evaluation Rubrics. It organizes teaching effectiveness across 8 sections rated on a 4-level scale.
- What are the sections of the CET?
- The CET has 8 sections: Planning, Classroom Climate, Instructional Management, Instructional Content Knowledge, Student Progress, Professional Work Habits, Parent and Community Involvement, and Technology.
- What are the CET rating levels?
- Practice is rated on a 4-level scale, ranging from Does Not Meet Standards to Highly Effective.
- What is the CET used for?
- Charter schools in Louisiana use CET-aligned rubrics to meet the state's educator evaluation requirements under Bulletin 130.
Related Reading
CET Resources for Principals
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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