Conference Presentation, Panel, Fireside Chat
Teacher Evaluation and National Testing: Can We Reach Consensus?
Milken InstituteYvonne Chan, Jason Culbertson, Warren Fletcher, Patrice Pujol, Thomas Boysen, Tom Boyce
- State and national assessment data are predicted to diverge, with state metrics showing inflated achievement compared to national benchmarks.
- Political discourse is shifting toward education standards, including a movement termed "Obamacore," with 26 states aligning with voluntary national standards while others maintain different positions.
- Research aims to demonstrate that teacher effectiveness and school quality drive student outcomes more significantly than social class.
- A $45 million, three-to-four-year investigation by the Gates Foundation concluded that teaching effectiveness can be measured reliably.
- Performance pay systems are projected to offer up to $15,000 annually, contingent on phasing in gradually to new hires and avoiding strict reliance on test scores to prevent a reduction in teaching complex writing.
- Court judgments in California have allowed for joint development of evaluation systems rather than mandating a 30% weight on test data.
- Teacher effectiveness systems are expected to bridge performance gaps between impoverished and affluent schools, particularly if implemented alongside Common Core standards.
- District turnaround models are planned to scale from eight schools to 28 schools within the district.
- Teacher leaders are anticipated to play a critical role in peer observations, creating professional pressure for ineffective teachers to improve or leave the profession.
- A system in Tennessee utilizing the TAP model achieved the highest student growth scores in the state since 1992.
- Rigorous evaluation systems are expected to improve state-level metrics even without master teachers or extensive professional development.
- Adaptive technology and devices are predicted to facilitate more frequent benchmark assessments, improving upon the current eight-week cycle.
- Teacher preparation programs are expected to undergo necessary improvements to better equip new teachers.
- Common Core State Standards are forecast to require team incentives and rubrics, especially for literacy, and will drive alignment between assessment measures and teacher observation data.
- Global interest from nations like China and Israel suggests opportunities for cross-border educational improvements regarding effective teaching.
- Lowering class sizes is anticipated to occur in the near future.
- Training modules will allow teachers to access instruction models via online platforms where master teachers are unavailable.