NEA Prez slams value added. “Look at the work in the classroom.”
As a NY court begins hearing testimony as to whether student growth scores should be released to the press, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel spoke out against the use of so-called value added scores to evaluate the complexity of teacher quality.
Van Roekel was responding to the challenge issued by former NY schools Chancellor Joel Klein. “If you don’t like using test scores to evaluate teachers, come up with something better.”
Van Roekel has done that.
A good teacher evaluation system should begin by examining evidence of a teacher’s preparation, including lesson plans, class assignments and scoring protocols. Teachers might be asked to assemble a portfolio – including videos of classroom discussion and notes or messages from parents.
There should be frequent, independent and thorough observations to determine whether the teacher is meeting high standards for teaching the subject. Finally,