Comments on: Racing To The Top http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/11/racing-to-the-top.html Education News, Analysis, and Commentary Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:00:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: sandra http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/11/racing-to-the-top.html/comment-page-1#comment-125127 sandra Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:51:31 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=4833#comment-125127 I agree! I am a teacher and agree that student achievement HAS to be part of our evaluation process. We have to be accountable for student achievement. I also agree that student achievement can not entirely be used to make decision but has to be a part of that process! I agree! I am a teacher and agree that student achievement HAS to be part of our evaluation process. We have to be accountable for student achievement. I also agree that student achievement can not entirely be used to make decision but has to be a part of that process!

]]> By: Robert Lowry http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/11/racing-to-the-top.html/comment-page-1#comment-120035 Robert Lowry Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:09:41 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=4833#comment-120035 I hope and expect that the New York law on student performance data and tenure decisions will expire as scheduled in a few months. But here is what the law says "...the teacher shall not be granted or denied tenure based on student performance data." This does not prevent districts from using student performance data in tenure evaluation. For example, a district could use student data to identify teachers for more careful and final review by other means. Speaking to the National Education Association this summer, Secretary Duncan said, "Test scores alone should never drive evaluation, compensation or tenure decisions. That would never make sense. But to remove student achievement entirely from evaluation is illogical and indefensible.” If New York's law is inconsistent with the Race to the Top guidelines, then those guidelines are inconsistent with Secretary Duncan's rhetoric at the union convention this summer. Robert Lowry NYS Council of School Superintendents I hope and expect that the New York law on student performance data and tenure decisions will expire as scheduled in a few months.

But here is what the law says “…the teacher shall not be granted or denied tenure based on student performance data.”

This does not prevent districts from using student performance data in tenure evaluation. For example, a district could use student data to identify teachers for more careful and final review by other means.

Speaking to the National Education Association this summer, Secretary Duncan said, “Test scores alone should never drive evaluation, compensation or tenure decisions. That would never make sense. But to remove student achievement entirely from evaluation is illogical and indefensible.”

If New York’s law is inconsistent with the Race to the Top guidelines, then those guidelines are inconsistent with Secretary Duncan’s rhetoric at the union convention this summer.

Robert Lowry
NYS Council of School Superintendents

]]> By: Joe P. http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/11/racing-to-the-top.html/comment-page-1#comment-119990 Joe P. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:20:56 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=4833#comment-119990 A nasty little dig at education in NY State-who, IMHO---the NYS Regents have held a steady hand over the statewide testing program which maintains consistently high standards with the highly regarded Regents Curriculum-as well as a strongly standardized process for teacher certification---just to name two areas of reason in NYS---Richard Mills, Thomas Sobol...reasonable men...Joel Klein? A nasty little dig at education in NY State-who, IMHO—the NYS Regents have held a steady hand over the statewide testing program which maintains consistently high standards with the highly regarded Regents Curriculum-as well as a strongly standardized process for teacher certification—just to name two areas of reason in NYS—Richard Mills, Thomas Sobol…reasonable men…Joel Klein?

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