(a) There is established a Performance Evaluation Advisory Council within the Department of Education. Membership of the council shall consist of: (1) The Commissioner of Education and the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, or their designees, (2) one representative from each of the following associations, designated by the association, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators, the Connecticut Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut, the Connecticut Association of School Administrators and the Connecticut Association of Schools, (3) a representative from the Task Force to Diversify the Educator Workforce, established pursuant to § 10-156aa, designated by the chairpersons of said task force, and (4) persons selected by the Commissioner of Education who shall include, but need not be limited to, teachers, persons with expertise in performance evaluation processes and systems, and any other person the commissioner deems appropriate.

(b) The council shall be responsible for (1) assisting the State Board of Education in the development of (A) guidelines for a model teacher evaluation and support program, and (B) a model teacher evaluation and support program, pursuant to subsection (c) of § 10-151b, (2) the data collection and evaluation support system, pursuant to subsection (c) of § 10-10a, and (3) assisting the State Board of Education in the development of a teacher evaluation and support program implementation plan, pursuant to subsection (e) of § 10-151b. The council shall meet at least quarterly. The council shall collaborate with the Task Force to Diversify the Educator Workforce, established pursuant to § 10-156aa, to focus on issues concerning equity and closing the achievement gap, as defined in § 10-14u.

(c) On and after July 1, 2018, the council shall, in collaboration with the minority teacher recruitment task force, incorporate into the work of the council strategies and a framework for educators to be effective in closing the achievement gap and in increasing educational opportunities.