Lessons from Korea.

The article discusses the Evaluation of Teacher Professional Development, a national teacher evaluation system set up in South Korea which incorporates school principals, teachers, students, and parents in the review of teacher performance. The article describes the expected standards for teacher quality and notes how teachers that either fail to meet, meet, or exceed performance benchmarks are required to engage in professional development or allowed to take research sabbaticals. The article notes teacher attitudes regarding the system, commenting on its focus on accountability rather than development. Topics including teacher autonomy, teacher cooperation, and parent participation in education are discussed and a revised framework for teacher evaluation is highlighted.