Posted on by arotherham

TN Eval, Can Behemoth FCPS Tolerate Any Competition? Common Confusion, And Indian Ed Webinar Thurs.

If you think there isn’t a lot of learning going on about teacher evaluation, check out this new report from TN (pdf).

If you think even the nation’s biggest and seemingly most successful school districts can tolerate a little competition read Kris Amundson calling BS on Fairfax County schools and charter schools.

If you think the federal government is awesome at running schools because of DoD schools then you haven’t looked at outcomes on reservation schools.  Webinar on Thursday about the National Indian Education Study with officials from USDOE.

And if you think Microsoft and the Gates Foundation are in cahoots, think again. Maybe there is too much of a firewall?  Microsoft releases a shared code system called…wait for it…Common Core.  Confusing!

5 Replies to “TN Eval, Can Behemoth FCPS Tolerate Any Competition? Common Confusion, And Indian Ed Webinar Thurs.”

  1. In Fairfax County there are about 13,891 students who do not attend FCPS.
    How is it they can get educated without a charter school to do it?

  2. And this comment to the article and a response by Mrs. Amundson:

    VonZipper
    7/15/2012 6:16 PM EDT
    Further, who brought up being “bumped” in the renovation queue? FCHS is not looking for a “bump”. The message was given quite clearly to FCHS parents by Dean Tisdadt that other schools in Fairfax County would take “umbrage “with FCHS getting a “bump”. Please “Google” the “Oakton Patch” and you will get a firsthand look at these irresponsible comments. In any event, let’s stick to the facts – FCHS has never asked or is asking for a “bump”. They have asked for a new strategy to attain renovation dollars based on many factors which other FCPS schools do not currently have such as low enrollment, bug infestations, unhealthy bathrooms, antiquated facilities, power issues, heating and air conditioning issues , and the list goes on and on.– I think you get the picture.

    Let me clarify further, FCHS and FLA are not “pitted against one another” You have already said you are “not an expert” on FCHS, so it’s is apparent that you do not see both sides of the picture.

    Yes, FCHS parents oppose FLA based on a number of factual things – duplication in services, impact on available resources, reduction in FCHS enrollment, etc, etc. Further, it is so sad that FLA, who you support, never went down the Route 50 corridor to the Falls Church High School Community to gain their support. – The FCHS community was left in the dark – and that’s documented. If that had happened, FCHS has talented and competent people who would have provided solutions to the “achievement gap”.

  3. From the TN Eval:

    there is enormous differentiation in performance between districts, even when controlling for demographic and other variables.
    BUT
     Most teachers in Tennessee are performing at a high level as measured by their impact on student achievement. The majority of teachers in the state are not simply adequate, but exceed expectations against high standards.

  4. And
    There is no perfect teacher evaluation system. However, as a state, we simply cannot afford to continue the status quo or let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
    Yet the status quo was that “Most teachers in Tennessee are performing at a high level “

  5. “we simply cannot afford to continue the status quo or let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

    Dear God, Jesus and Mary, if I hear that phrase one more time, I’m gonna %&)*&%$_*^

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.