The Circular Logic of Quality-Based Layoff Arguments
Many pundits are responding enthusiastically to the new LA Times article on quality-based layoffs - or how dismissing teachers based on Value-added scores rather than on seniority would have saved LAUSD many of its better teachers, rather than simply saving its older ones.
Recently, I explained the problematic circular logic being used to support these “quality-based layoff” arguments. Obviously, if we dismiss teachers based on “true” quality measures, rather than experience which is, of course, not correlated with “true” quality measures, then we save the jobs of good teachers and get rid of bad ones. Simple enough? Not so. Here’s my explanation, once again.
This argument draws on an interesting thought piece and simulation posted a
