Survey: U.S. Accountability System Less Fair and Effective Compared to Other Countries
By Brenda Álvarez
Educators who are empowered to take control of their profession tend to yield better results for their practice, students, and learning. Supporting this statement is an international report released today by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which shows that teachers are the gateway to improve teaching and learning—and transform the education profession.Dubbed TALIS for the Teaching and Learning International Survey, the report provides relevant information about working conditions and learning environments and is designed to help countries with similar data review and define policies for producing a high-quality teaching profession.
“There are ways to improve student success,” says NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, “and they involve better preparation for teachers, better support in the classroom, and ensuring that all students have access to qualified teachers and great schools. To get there—at minimum—teachers should be part of the decision-making team.”
Much of the report underscores what NEA has advocated for years: educators need to have a voice at the table to help transform public education; time to teach and collaborate; and an accountability system that provides feedback and support that enhances the teaching practice and advances student learning.
OECD targeted 106,000 lower secondary (grades 7, 8, and 9) teachers and administrators, representing more than four million educators across the globe. In the U.S., 1,926 teachers and 102 principals in 122 schools participated in the survey. Key findings for the U.S. portion of the report are below.
Teacher Time: Improving student success involves ensuring access to qualified teachers who have the time to reflect on and improve their practice, collaborate with other teachers, plan classes, and work with students one on one. TALIS results indicate that for U.S. teachers, this time is not easy to find, as they work significantly more hours on average than teachers in other TALIS countries—48.8 hours per week Survey: U.S. Accountability System Less Fair and Effective Compared to Other Countries | NEA Today: