Teachers union president criticizes LA Times 'value added' teacher analysis
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File photo: Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers, speaks during day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten spoke to teachers and administrators at the Kedren Head Start Center in Watts. She said the L.A. Times is wrong to release test score data from thousands of L.A. Unified teachers later this month in its "value added" analysis. Weingarten also called for lawmakers to stay away from early childhood education budgets.
The Kedren Head Start Center is a daycare center in the Nickerson Gardens housing projects. It educates more than 100 2- to 5-year-olds.
The center runs on federal and state funding, and Weingarten told the center's staff that lawmakers need to keep their budget axes away from early childhood education.
Weingarten also spoke of the growing debate about teacher effectiveness in public schools. She