Performance evaluation or appraisal systems comprise the guidelines, procedures, and methods used by organizations to systematically monitor and judge the work of organizational units and individuals against desired criteria or standards of quality and productivity. Performance evaluation systems (PES) face unique theoretical, technical, and practical challenges in evaluating the work of schools and teachers. This entry provides an overview of PES in economics and public policy and then examines their application in the context of education policy and practice in relation to four key dimensions: (1) the purpose of the evaluation, (2) the frameworks defining the aspects of performance to be evaluated, (3) the design and methods of evaluation, and (4) the uses of the information collected for assessing and improving performance. The final section ...