Teacher Professional Growth System (TPGS)
Developed through a collaborative partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the Teacher Professional Growth System (TPGS) was implemented beginning in the 2000-2001 school year and is now in its 2025-2026 edition. Built on six performance standards adapted from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, TPGS shifts the focus from checklist-style compliance to continuous professional growth - incorporating a Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) program and aligning with Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future career ladder requirements. The MCPS model is widely recognized as a national exemplar and has been studied and adapted by districts across the country.
The TPGS (MCPS) is organized into 6 domains, 6 criteria, and a 3-level rating scale.
Used by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland - one of the largest school districts in the United States with approximately 156,500 students. The MCPS model is widely recognized nationally and has been studied and adapted by school districts across the country.
Domains and Criteria
The TPGS (MCPS) domains and criteria
Standard 1
Teachers are committed to students and their learning - encompassing equitable treatment of all students, understanding of how students develop and learn, and adjustment of practice to meet individual needs.
- Teachers are committed to students and their learning
Standard 2
Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students - covering deep content knowledge, use of multiple instructional approaches, and connection of subject matter to real-world contexts.
- Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students
Standard 3
Teachers are responsible for establishing and managing student learning in a positive learning environment - addressing classroom culture, student engagement, management of instructional time, and creation of a safe, respectful learning community.
- Teachers are responsible for establishing and managing student learning in a positive learning environment
Standard 4
Teachers continually assess student progress, analyze the results, and adapt instruction to improve student achievement - including formative and summative assessment design, data analysis, and responsive instructional adjustments.
- Teachers continually assess student progress, analyze the results, and adapt instruction to improve student achievement
Standard 5
Teachers are committed to continuous improvement and professional development - covering reflective practice, engagement with professional learning communities, and ongoing growth in instructional effectiveness.
- Teachers are committed to continuous improvement and professional development
Standard 6
Teachers exhibit a high degree of professionalism - including ethical conduct, collaboration with colleagues and families, contributions to the school community, and adherence to professional responsibilities.
- Teachers exhibit a high degree of professionalism
Rating Levels
TPGS (MCPS) rating levels
Source
Official TPGS (MCPS) source
Source: Montgomery County Public Schools, MCPS Teacher-Level Professional Growth System 2023-2024 Handbook (2023-2024). Verified 2026-06-01. View the official rubric
Rubric facts verified 2026-06-01 against the official source.
Giving feedback on the TPGS (MCPS)
The slow part is the write-up
Aligning observation evidence to every TPGS (MCPS) 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 TPGS (MCPS) feedback in seconds
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to the right TPGS (MCPS) 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 TPGS standards automatically
- Generates evidence-based summaries for each of the six performance standards
- Suggests ratings aligned to the TPGS rubric scale
- Creates targeted next steps tied to specific TPGS standard indicators
- Reduces post-observation write-up time for MCPS principals and coaches
Frequently Asked Questions
TPGS (MCPS) FAQ
- What is the PGS?
- Montgomery County Public Schools' qualitative teacher evaluation and professional growth framework. Defines six (plus a role-limited seventh) Teacher Performance Standards, each clarified by performance criteria and positive/needs-improvement sample claims of observable teaching behaviors. The formal evaluation results in a holistic rating of Meets Standard, Emerging, or Below Standard; the framework has no per-standard rated matrix.
- What are the domains of the PGS?
- The PGS is organized into 6 domains: Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 5, and Standard 6.
- How is the PGS scored?
- Performance against each standard's Criteria for Success is described with positive or needs-improvement sample claims rather than a per-standard rated matrix. The formal evaluation results in a single holistic rating: Meets Standard, Emerging, or Below Standard.
- What does TPGS stand for?
- TPGS stands for the Teacher Professional Growth System, Montgomery County Public Schools' teacher evaluation and professional growth framework.
- Which version of the TPGS is current?
- The current version is the MCPS Teacher-Level Professional Growth System 2023-2024 Handbook, built on six performance standards adapted from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and verified against the Montgomery County Public Schools source on June 1, 2026.
Used In
States Using TPGS (MCPS)
Related Reading
TPGS (MCPS) 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.
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 TPGS (MCPS) observations?
Start generating framework-aligned feedback in seconds.