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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” | Scathing Purple Musings

Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” | Scathing Purple Musings:


Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade”

From the editors of the Tampa Bay Times:
It was obvious to Florida public school teachers six weeks ago that the state’s new system for evaluating them uses imperfect data that makes the evaluations of dubious value. Now a statewide snapshot of results should make that clear to everyone else. The state Board of Education and legislative leaders need to fix the evaluation system that is the foundation for moving to merit-based teacher pay or risk losing more credibility for their entire effort to hold public schools accountable.
I have no idea how the state board, the legislature and Rick Scott for that matter, could lose any more credibility of education. Too bad the Times misses out on the disconnect between these results and the state’s other accountability schemes. And heaven forbid anyone listen to teachers. But not listen - and mock they did. Senate president Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) scoffed at teacher’s warnings last week “I’m shocked, shocked that a union