Giving Efficiency and Effectiveness New Meaning in Educator Candidate Preparation

The way we evaluate teacher candidates matters just as much as what we’re evaluating. Traditional assessment models often start with a rubric rating, then look for evidence to support it—introducing bias and making feedback less actionable. The Evidence-First™ scoring model flips this outdated approach by ensuring that observable evidence determines scores, not the other way around.

How Evidence-First Scoring is Transforming Teacher Preparation

In 2023, a group of Georgia’s Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) adopted the Evidence-First™ scoring approach for their certification assessments, using it in the EPiC™ Key Assessment to measure teacher candidates’ instructional skills. The system works by:

1. Gathering observable evidence first, eliminating the need for subjective score justification.

2. Aligning evidence markers directly to rubric categories, ensuring consistency across evaluators.

3. Automatically generating rubric scores, reducing scoring variability and improving reliability.

4. Providing candidates with clear, evidence-backed feedback, making it easier to improve and refine their teaching skills.

Why It Matters for Educator Preparation

• Improved Scoring Consistency – Evaluators assess performance using concrete, observable evidence rather than subjective judgment, increasing inter-rater reliability.

• Greater Transparency – Candidates receive clear, evidence-based explanations for their scores, giving them actionable insights for improvement.

• Enhanced Objectivity – The system removes personal bias by tying all scores directly to documented evidence.

• More Meaningful Feedback – Candidates receive targeted coaching suggestions based on actual performance indicators, rather than vague, generalized comments.

By ensuring every assessment is backed by documented evidence rather than subjective interpretation, the Evidence-First™ scoring approach brings efficiency, reliability, and fairness to teacher candidate evaluations—helping to better prepare the next generation of educators.

Attend the next Discover EPiC Q&A Webinar to see how this approach is reshaping educator preparation.