The following words and phrases when used in this subarticle shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Assessment.” The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test, the Keystone Exams or another test established by the State Board of Education or approved by an act of the General Assembly to meet the requirements of section 2603-B(d)(10)(i)¹ and the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95, 129 Stat. 1802)² or its successor statute or required to achieve other standards established by the department for the school or school district.

“Chief school administrator.” Includes an individual who is employed as a school district superintendent, an executive director of an intermediate unit or an administrative director of an area career and technical school.

“Classroom teacher.” A professional employee or temporary professional employee who provides direct instruction to students related to a specific subject or grade level.

“Classroom walk-through.” An observational classroom visit by an evaluator to observe an employee for the purpose of gathering evidence and artifacts to inform the employee's rating.

“Comprehensive classroom observation.” An observational classroom visit that includes a preconference and postconference between an evaluator and an employee which may be conducted by telephone or videoconferencing. Upon the mutual agreement of both an evaluator and a professional employee, the requirement of a postconference may be waived for extenuating circumstances, if the evaluator places written documentation of the comprehensive classroom observation in the professional employee's file. If the extenuating circumstances are raised by the evaluator, a professional employee who does not receive a postconference shall not receive a rating of needs improvement or failing on the comprehensive classroom observation component of an evaluation. The requirement of a postconference shall not be waived for a temporary professional employee.

“Data-available teacher.” A classroom teacher who is a professional employee teaching English, language arts, mathematics, science or other content areas as assessed by an assessment, including the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and Keystone Exams.

“Department.” The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.

“Differentiated supervision.” A system of supervision of professional employees that:

“Economically disadvantaged.” The economically disadvantaged status of a student as reported by a school district, intermediate unit or area career and technical school through the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) and determined based upon poverty data sources such as eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid or free or reduced-price lunch, census data, residence in an institution for the neglected or delinquent or residence in a foster home.

“Educational specialist.” The term shall have the same meaning given in section 1.2 of the act of December 12, 1973 (P.L. 397, No. 141),⁵ known as the Educator Discipline Act.

“Evaluator.” Includes the chief school administrator or the chief school administrator's designee who is an assistant administrator, supervisor or principal, has supervision over the work of the professional employee or temporary professional employee being rated and is directed by the chief school administrator to perform the rating.

“Graduation rate.” The rate submitted by the department under the Every Student Succeeds Act State plan that represents the percentage of students in a school who earn a high school diploma within four years.

“Nonteaching professional employee.” An educational specialist or a professional employee or temporary professional employee who provides services and who is not a classroom teacher.

“Performance improvement plan.” A plan, designed by an employer with documented input from the employee, that:

“Principal.” Includes a building principal, an assistant principal, a vice principal, a supervisor of special education or a director of career and technical education.

“Regulatory Review Act.” The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L. 633, No. 181),⁶ known as the Regulatory Review Act.