Comments on: Group making new teacher report cards extends hand to union http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/13/group-making-new-teacher-report-cards-extends-hand-to-union/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Thorn http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/13/group-making-new-teacher-report-cards-extends-hand-to-union/comment-page-1/#comment-170890 Chris Thorn Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:55:02 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=20511#comment-170890 Peter, Thanks for pointing out that the majority of teachers are not covered by the current value-added feedback system. In other work with colleagues from Vanderbilt University, we have referred to this as "the other 69%", since that's a rough estimate of the number of teaching professionals not covered by NCLB tested grades and subjects. Every one of our partner districts is concerned about this issue. We are indeed exploring what might be possible with benchmark diagnostics tests being used in many districts in these other grades and subjects. It's important to give professionals timely, meaningful feedback. Perhaps the genomics folks at work here at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will find that "teaching gene". I don't think they will put any of us out of business any time soon. I think we are stuck answering that tough question on our own for the foreseeable future. Peter,

Thanks for pointing out that the majority of teachers are not covered by the current value-added feedback system. In other work with colleagues from Vanderbilt University, we have referred to this as “the other 69%”, since that’s a rough estimate of the number of teaching professionals not covered by NCLB tested grades and subjects. Every one of our partner districts is concerned about this issue. We are indeed exploring what might be possible with benchmark diagnostics tests being used in many districts in these other grades and subjects. It’s important to give professionals timely, meaningful feedback.

Perhaps the genomics folks at work here at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will find that “teaching gene”. I don’t think they will put any of us out of business any time soon. I think we are stuck answering that tough question on our own for the foreseeable future.

]]> By: peter http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/13/group-making-new-teacher-report-cards-extends-hand-to-union/comment-page-1/#comment-170642 peter Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:24:29 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=20511#comment-170642 While teachers are rightfully suspicious the DOE did select a highly regarded vendor ... their task is enormously complex ... and many teachers are "out of the loop," pre-k, kindergrten, elementary clusters, reading/math teachers, collaborative team teachers and all high school teachers Rather than use student achievement data as a summative teacher assessment one would hope that the process can help to explain why some teachers are more successful than others w/ the same kids ... I'm betting that the genome project will unearth that teaching gene!!! While teachers are rightfully suspicious the DOE did select a highly regarded vendor … their task is enormously complex … and many teachers are “out of the loop,” pre-k, kindergrten, elementary clusters, reading/math teachers, collaborative team teachers and all high school teachers

Rather than use student achievement data as a summative teacher assessment one would hope that the process can help to explain why some teachers are more successful than others w/ the same kids … I’m betting that the genome project will unearth that teaching gene!!!

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