Seattle Teachers' Union Rolls Back Education "Reform" Tide
by NWTerriD
Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 01:16:47 AM PDT
Wednesday afternoon the Seattle teachers' union (SEA) achieved a huge victory over the proponents of what is popularly (and erroneously) known as "education reform."
After many, many hours of hard negotiations, the SEA negotiators achieved a tentative contract with the district. What is remarkable about this contract is that:
* Teachers' final evaluations will not depend on student test scores.* Teachers' jobs will not depend on student test scores.* Teachers' pay will not depend on student test scores.This tentative agreement was reached despite intensive efforts by the Broad-Foundation-connected superintendent to insert test scores into all three of the above areas.
The contract will not be final unless it is ratified by the SEA general membership Thursday evening, but the SEA Board and the Representative Assembly (building reps) have voted to recommend ratification.