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Evaluation and tenure bill finally unveiled
Written by Todd Engdahl on Apr 12th, 2010. | Copyright © EdNewsColorado.org
[...] in Colorado, State Senator Michael Johnston has just introduced the Educator Effectiveness Bill, a package of legislation that is markedly similar to the D.C. teachers’ [...]
[...] in Colorado, State Senator Michael Johnston has just introduced the Educator Effectiveness Bill, a package of legislation that is markedly similar to the D.C. teachers’ [...]
Parents around the state support this measure too. This is just one step of many to fix what ails our public schools. Objective measures will protect great teachers and leaders and hopefully inspire and support struggling teachers and leaders to improve. As a parent of public school students and a voter, if this measure passes then I will be more inclined to support increased funding for education.
Citizens, parents, teachers and community organizers have put together a petition at http://www.greatteachersandleaders.org in order to show to these legislators that their constituents support SB 10-191.
I think what is key is how student growth will be measured. As a teacher, as long as I am only expected for my students to make a year’s growth I am fine with that. It is when we start talking about test scores that I have problems. Each year 85% of my students make growth of a year or more. This means if a student entering my 4th grade class reads at a beginning first grade level, when they leave my classroom the same student is reading at a beginning 2nd grade level or better. It does not mean that the student is proficient on CSAP. The means for evaluating student growth is essential. If our evaluations are to be based on student growth the way we evaluate student growth must be fair to all teachers, no matter what neighborhood or district in which they teach.
Here is the language in the bill that spells out exactly what you just stated.
At least fifty percent of the evaluation is determined by the academic growth of the teacher’s students and that each teacher is provided with an opportunity to improve his or her effectiveness through a growth plan that links his or her evaluation and level of effectiveness to professional development opportunities. The multiple measures to determine effectiveness of teachers shall include, but need not be limited to, measures of student longitudinal academic growth that are consistent with the measures set forth in section 22-11-204 (2) and achievement levels on any statewide assessments in the relevant subject and grade level or any locally adopted interim assessments approved by the state board to assess student academic growth in the relevant subject and grade level.
[...] on these links to see recent EdNews’ coverage of Johnston’s bill and of Colorado’s Race to the Top [...]
[...] – See this story for more details on SB 10-191. [...]
I understand your desire for increased skills of our children. I share your passion for quality teachers delivering quality education. This is not the way to accomplish those goals.
Let’s address personal accountability of the student and his/her family. How about respectful behavior by the student in the classroom? Then there is the state’s and districts’ micro-management. How about lawsuits around every corner if a parent decides his/her child is not receiving “fair” treatment? Then there is the abundance of disruptive and sometimes violent children with which we contend in most classes. And, of course, CSAP stresses everyone!
There are policies in place that allow administrators to relieve incompetent teachers of their responsibilities. Let’s address core issues first, not teacher tenure.
Teachers in Florida stood united against a similar, but much more extreme, plan- and the Governor vetoed it based on our concerns. Colorado teachers, be sure you know exactly what is in the bill, and stand up for what is right, not just what is politically popular!
Florida defeated this via major grassroots campaigns. Try Facebook Stop Snate Bill 6 as an example. If we can do it, so can you. HIt your computers and organize!
[...] Background story on the bill [...]
[...] 40,000-member CEA was first in line to oppose the bill after it was introduced last week, saying the just-started work of the Governor’s Council on Educator Effectiveness should be [...]
I support the desire to see a better evaluation system for teachers. However, basing the evaluations at least 50% on student achievement is setting us up for failure. For example, I currently teach mostly honors students. My students will likely grow a great deal this year, even if I am a terrible teacher. Next year, I only have one honors class. I will likely see substantially less growth, simply because the students are less motivated to learn. Does this mean that I became a worse teacher? Of course not.
The biggest factor in student success is the student. The second largest is the parent. Only after that comes the teacher and principal. I would love to say that I can motivate every one of my students to do homework, but when I have students who tell me that they can’t do assignments because their parents work three jobs and they have to care for the house and their siblings, I’m not sure how to help. I’ve had parents tell me that my math class is not as important as their child’s social time. At some point, when the child isn’t learning, some responsibility needs to be placed on the student!
W. Edwards Deming pointed out “Reward for good performance may be the same as reward to the weatherman for a nice day.” The same works in reverse. I’m not saying that there aren’t bad teachers, but this isn’t the answer.
As a parent and a teacher, I am truly concerned about the fairness of this bill. I do believe that ineffective teachers need to find another profession. I don’t think that this Bill will solve this problem. If the Bill passes, how will they fund it? We are already taking hits in education because of lack of funding. These proposals might look pretty on paper, but in reality, they are frightening. I have seen incredible teachers alienated by poor leadership. If this bill passes, who can guarantee that good teachers will be protected, which they should? Everyone should have access to Due Process. This bill threatens that basic human right. Inner city schools or schools in more complicated working environments will suffer the most. Let’s face it, the test doesn’t fairly evaluate the whole child. I am fortunate that my curriculum isn’t tested on CSAPs. I would hate to have my creative curriculum minimized and trivialized by test makers who might not get it. If that were the case, I might have to leave education because my creative talents would be stifled as I am expected to stifle the education of my students. I met a teacher who works in a really rough school. She was educated, creative and passionate. She had a couple of major problems, however. She had apathetic parents and students. Some of these kids have been in jail. Parents have been in and out of jail, etc. The only meal for some of these children is the free lunch at school. Until parents and students step up to contribute to a positive education system, our system will fail. Parents and students also need to be accountable. Until then, we need to stop targeting teachers. People that have never taught, especially in a tough school, really need to understand and reevaluate their thoughts on this Bill.
Videos to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUSkWoWVYeY