Interesting developments in Knox County, where the TEA is bringing a lawsuit against the state regarding TVAAS data. They claim that the system of evaluating teachers on TVAAS violates the 14th amendment of the US Constitution and should be thrown out. From the Tennessee Ed Report:
The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Knox County teacher who was denied a bonus under that school system’s pay plan after Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) data for 10 of her students was unknowingly attributed to her.
TVAAS is Tennessee’s system of measuring student growth over time. It generates data based on student test scores on TCAP and end of course tests.
In this specific case, the teacher, Lisa Trout, was assigned TVAAS data for 10 students after being told her evaluation would be based on system-wide TVAAS data because she taught at an alternative school.
The TEA lawsuit cites two different memos which indicated that Ms. Trout could expect an evaluation (and bonus eligibility) to be based on system-wide data. At the conclusion of the school year, Ms. Trout was informed that her overall evaluation score, including observations and TVAAS data was a 4, making her eligible for a bonus under the Knox County pay plan.
When she did not receive the bonus as expected, she began asking questions about why the bonus had not been paid. She ultimately determined that without her knowledge, a school counselor had assigned 10 students to Ms. Trout for the factoring of TVAAS scores. The students were in an Algebra II course Ms. Trout taught, even though she does not hold an endorsement for teaching Alegbra II.
I am not a legal scholar, but it will be interesting to watch this as it progresses through the courts as it could have profound implications for how data is used in teacher evaluations in Shelby County, Tennessee and across the country.
This should be especially interesting. I’m am currently in the process of researching and developing alternative ways to evaluate alternative school teachers. It is absolutely clear that student data is completely ineffective and invalid for this setting. I am an alternative teacher who received a 5 (highest) one year and a 1(lowest) the following year in student achievement for the same reason Ms. Trout did. It’s time for policy change in this area!
It’s time to throw out the idea of evaluating any teachers by test scores, Ms. Jones.
Disagree. Some subjects, such as math, science, reading, are completely test appropriate. Others such as Spanish, art and music need alternative means
That said it should only be one measure of teacher effectiveness and be worth less than it currently is (no more than 33%)
Reading and math are not test appropriate. As an example, a relative of mine teaches Algebra. This relative tells me that it is not possible any longer to teach actual algebra: the only way to get high test scores (and this relative always gets a TVAAS 5) is to constantly teach them to use graphing calculators, which they do not own. When they leave high school, they will have no graphing calculators and will know no algebra. One example of why judging teachers by math test scores is detrimental to the education of children.
Meghan, you’re talking to an Algebra I teacher who also teaches geometry and is married to an Algebra II teacher. Trust me, it is completely possible to teach algebra 1 without resorting to calculator tests.
What are your TVAAS scores from when you taught in a high poverty (99% free lunch) school that didn’t require parents to sigh contracts? If they weren’t fives, I’m not sure you have an argument there.
If they were fives, that doesn’t change the fact that the system of evaluating teachers by test scores incentivizes teachers to test prep exclusively (but I would still be interested in hearing about it if you made TVAAS fives without concentrating on calculator work).
I had a 4 and a 3 on my TVAAS my first two years. My point wasn’t about making 5’s, my point is that you can teach students algebra and see growth without resorting to a calculator. Additionally , some of the tests could use an update, but that doesn’t mean that testing in and of itself is a bad thing.
Thank you for being so open about your scores. The person I am referring to will accept no less than a five, and will do what is necessary to get it. I think there are many teachers who are like that, as they need to be to ensure job security. But it is not good for the kids, and high-stakes testing is at the root of the problem.
My personal feeling is that testing is only the focus if you allow it to become the focus. It takes a strong will not to succumb.
A strong will and some sort of safety net – if you absolutely must have your job to support your family, there’s not much chance of your risking it by not test prepping all the time. And why should we force teachers to make such a difficult choice? Unitedoptout.com
So are we arguing about getting 5’s or keeping your job? Because you were just making the case for not being able to get 5’s without a calculator, not keeping your job. Job keeping is possible even with a 1 or a 2 if your observation scores are good.
It’s possible to keep your job with a 1? I don’t know about that. If they don’t change the licensing rules, you’ll lose your license with a 1.
They already voted against that rule, it’s no longer relevant
And let’s not argue. Let’s respectfully disagree.