LI Principals speak out forcefully
in opposition to the idea of tying the evaluation of teachers and principals to student test scores. In 2010 the NY State Legislature modified the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) of teachers and principals in an effort to gain Race to the Top Funds from the US Department of Education. As the principals note this introduction to the paper they prepared,
The new law states that beginning September 2011, all teachers and principals will receive a number from 0-100 to rate their performance. Part of that number (ranging from 20% to 40%) will be derived from how well students perform on standardized tests. At first glance, using test scores might seem like a reasonable approach to accountability. As designed, however, these regulations carry unintended negative consequences for our schools and students that simply cannot be ignored.Our paper describes in clear detail why everyone should be concerned about these changes, and