Teacher-rating plan flawed
As some of you may have noticed, I have tried publishing this letter before (USA Today). Fortunately, it will appear in the Chicago Sun-Times. Unfortunately it is applicable nearly everywhere in the US.
Published in the Chicago Sun-Times, April 2, 2012
Teacher-rating plan flawed
The Chicago Public Schools have decided that student test scores gains will be used as part of teacher evaluation [“Teacher ratings overhaul forges on despite lack of union approval, March 31].
Everything is wrong with this plan. A number of studies have shown that rating teachers using test score gains does not give consistent results. Different tests produce different ratings, and the same teacher’s ratings can vary from year to year, sometimes quite a bit.
In addition, using test score gains for evaluation encourages gaming the system, trying to produce increases in
Published in the Chicago Sun-Times, April 2, 2012
Teacher-rating plan flawed
The Chicago Public Schools have decided that student test scores gains will be used as part of teacher evaluation [“Teacher ratings overhaul forges on despite lack of union approval, March 31].
Everything is wrong with this plan. A number of studies have shown that rating teachers using test score gains does not give consistent results. Different tests produce different ratings, and the same teacher’s ratings can vary from year to year, sometimes quite a bit.
In addition, using test score gains for evaluation encourages gaming the system, trying to produce increases in