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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Reformy Disconnect: “Quality Based” RIF? « School Finance 101

Reformy Disconnect: “Quality Based” RIF? « School Finance 101

Reformy Disconnect: “Quality Based” RIF?

I addressed this point previously in my post on cost-effectiveness of quality based layoffs, but it was buried deep in the post.

Reformers are increasingly calling for quality based layoffs versus seniority based layoffs, as if a simple dichotomy. Sounds like a no brainer when framed in these distorted terms.

I pointed out in the previous post that if the proposal on the table is really about using value-added teacher effect estimates versus years of service, we’re really talking about the choice between significantly biased and error prone – largely random – layoffs versus using years of service. It doesn’t sound as much like a no brainer when put in those terms, does it? It is actually quite difficult to determine which, in this case, is