(

a) Evaluation and assessment of the performance of each certificated employee shall be made on a continuing basis as follows:

(1) At least once each school year for probationary personnel.

(2) At least every other year for personnel with permanent status.

(3) At least every five years for personnel with permanent status who have been employed at least years with the school district, are highly qualified, if those personnel occupy positions that are required to be filled by a highly qualified professional by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C.

Sec. 6301, et seq.), as defined in U.S.C.

Sec. 7801, and whose previous evaluation rated the employee as meeting or exceeding standards, if the evaluator and certificated employee being evaluated agree. The certificated employee or the evaluator may withdraw consent at any time. (

b) The evaluation shall include recommendations, if necessary, as to areas of improvement in the performance of the employee. If an employee is not performing his or her duties in a satisfactory manner according to the standards prescribed by the governing board, the employing authority shall notify the employee in writing of that fact and describe the unsatisfactory performance. The employing authority shall thereafter confer with the employee making specific recommendations as to areas of improvement in the employee’s performance and endeavor to assist the employee in his or her performance.

If any permanent certificated employee has received an unsatisfactory evaluation, the employing authority shall annually evaluate the employee until the employee achieves a positive evaluation or is separated from the district. (

c) Any evaluation performed pursuant to this

article which contains an unsatisfactory rating of an employee’s performance in the area of teaching methods or instruction may include the requirement that the certificated employee shall, as determined necessary by the employing authority, participate in a program designed to improve appropriate areas of the employee’s performance and to further pupil achievement and the instructional objectives of the employing authority. If a district participates in the Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers established pursuant to

Article 4.5 (commencing with

Section 44500), any certificated employee who receives an unsatisfactory rating on an evaluation performed pursuant to this

section shall participate in the Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers. (

d) Hourly and temporary hourly certificated employees, other than those employed in adult education classes who are excluded by the provisions of

Section 44660, and substitute teachers may be excluded from the provisions of this

section at the discretion of the governing board.