Join the Shift to Evidence-First™ Scoring

For years, teacher evaluations and educator preparation assessments have relied on traditional rubric-based scoring—a process where evaluators assign a rating first, then search for evidence to justify it. But what if we flipped the script? What if evidence came first, leading to fairer, faster, and more actionable feedback? That’s exactly what the Evidence-First™ approach does, and it’s already changing the game in both K-12 teacher evaluations and educator preparation programs.

The Problem with Traditional Rubric-Based Scoring

Anyone who has conducted teacher evaluations knows the challenges. Administrators spend hours assigning scores, then struggle to back them up with concrete evidence. Teacher candidates in educator preparation programs often receive inconsistent scores due to evaluator subjectivity. Worse yet, post-observation conferences frequently become debates over numbers rather than meaningful conversations about growth.

This approach is like assembling a puzzle after forcing the pieces into place—it’s inefficient, inconsistent, and doesn’t always result in a clear picture of teacher performance.

Enter Evidence-First™ Scoring: A Smarter Approach

Instead of selecting a rubric score first and justifying it later, Evidence-First™ scoring reverses the process. Evaluators check off observable classroom evidence as they conduct an assessment. The system then automatically assigns rubric scores based on the selected evidence—removing subjectivity and ensuring alignment with best practices.

The result? More accurate, reliable, and transparent evaluations that focus on instructional impact rather than arbitrary ratings.

How LoTi is Leading the Way

At LoTi Connection, we’ve been working with K-12 school districts and Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) to implement Evidence-First™ scoring with the K-12 LoTi Teacher Evaluation and EPiC™ Key Assessment for teacher candidates, respectively.

For K-12 Schools: The LoTi Teacher Evaluation

• Cuts evaluation time in half by eliminating the need to manually justify scores.

• Improves accuracy and fairness by basing ratings on real classroom practices.

• Provides instant, rubric-aligned supervisory suggestions to help administrators give targeted, actionable feedback.

• Ensures compliance with state evaluation requirements, like New Jersey’s QSAC review process.

For Preparation Providers: The EPiC Key Assessment

• Standardizes scoring for teacher candidates, reducing evaluator bias.

• Aligns with accreditation and certification standards while maintaining transparency.

• Strengthens coaching conversations by providing candidates with evidence-based feedback.

The Future of Teacher Evaluation

Traditional evaluation methods often miss the mark when it comes to fostering professional growth. The Evidence-First™ approach puts the focus back where it belongs—on clear, actionable feedback that drives real improvement.

Join the shift toward faster, fairer, and more effective teacher evaluations. Register for an Evidence-First Q&A Webinar to see how this innovative approach is transforming schools and educator preparation programs nationwide.