The test score witch-hunt in LA

http://socialistworker.org/print/2010/09/02/test-score-witch-hunt-in-la

Jessica Kochick, a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, looks at the anti-union agenda behind "value-added" evaluation of teacher performance.

September 2, 2010

THE SCHOOL year in the Los Angeles Unified School District is about to kick off--with two unpaid furlough days due to budget cuts and union concessions--and teachers and parents are grappling with a debate over a recent Los Angeles Times article "Who's Teaching L.A.'s Kids?" <1>

The article unveils a study of individual teacher effectiveness in LAUSD, based on a "value-added measure"--meaning how much "value" an individual teacher has added to a student's expected yearly growth as measured by California standardized reading and math tests. If a student's test scores improve compared to his or her peers, the teacher has "added value"; if the student's percentile ranking drops, the teacher is deemed ineffective.

The Times published online the "effectiveness" of approximately 6,000 elementary school teachers, including their names, rankings and places of employment. This unethical move has already led to division, humiliation and mistrust among teaching staffs overburdened by layoffs and overcrowded classrooms. Parents, in turn, face a confusing set of results, often discovering that their favorite teacher has been deemed "ineffective."

Ramon Cortines, superintendent of LAUSD, has stated that he would like a value-added measure to make up at least 30 percent of a teacher's evaluation. Not coincidentally, this is the percentage required on the Race to the Top grant application--the federal, competitive program that gives education money to states in exchange for punitive accountability measures.

California did not qualify this year for Race to the Top money. LAUSD was competing for about $120 million, not nearly enough to close its budget deficit.

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THE VALUE-added model is very controversial. Respected research from both the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences point to the instability of the results.

In several studies, up to 35 percent of individual teachers moved from the most effective group to the least effective group (or vice versa) from one year to the next. The researchers conclude that these statistical models should not be used for high-stakes decisions, like firing teachers or awarding merit pay.

This includes our president and Sec of Ed.

Busting these pesky teachers' unions might accomplish what had in the past been a mere RW pipe dream: national average of BELOW 10%.

In a related development, Sec. Duncan says he's not worried if GOP takes control of congress. He can work with *anyone*. (Today's NYT).

I believe he's actually telling the truth about that.