Comments on: State releases teacher rating data that most districts won’t use

By: East Sider

East Sider — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Not a bell curve – but a determination that an analysis of this year’s data the cut score for the “ineffective” category was 6%, each year an analysis of the data could yield a different cut score. And, yes, there will always be some % in the lowest category. However, the key question is what is called “stability,” will those teachers be the same each year? From what we know there have been wide swings in scores from year to year. If that continues to be the case it cast serious doubts on the usefulness of the data. Another issue will be the 60% score – if there is a wide variance it casts doubt on the “reliability” of the score.
It will probably take three years to get a better handle on the process.

By: leonie haimson

leonie haimson — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:57:00 +0000

First of all, this statement is incorrect: “In the past, assessments of teacher quality tended to look only at
students’ test scores: A teacher whose students scored higher was deemed
stronger.” I don’t know any principal who judged teachers on the basis of raw test scores, which would be ridiculous. The whole emphasis on test scores came only recently, with the TDRs. Secondly, though the number of teachers judged “ineffective” may be small, what about the reliability of such a measure? Many experts like Bruce Baker have pointed out how erratic and unreliable growth scores are. Third, what’s the evidence for this statement from King: ” they can use the scores to help improve instruction.” How exactly?

By: reality-based educator

reality-based educator — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Yes – the system is devised to rank 5%-10% of teachers every year as “ineffective”, then yank those who come up “ineffective” two years running. And as Gary Rubenstein showed in his study of the NYCDOE’s value-added measurements of 4th-8th grade ELA and math teachers, almost every teacher will come up “ineffective” on the VAM eventually.

Here are some links:

First, the “bell curve nature” of the NY State evaluation system:

http://gothamschools.org/2012/03/06/integral-to-value-added-is-a-requirement-that-some-score-low/

Next, Gary’s look at the NYC VAM:

http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2012/02/26/analyzing-released-nyc-value-added-data-part-1/

http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2012/02/28/analyzing-released-nyc-value-added-data-part-2/

Finally, here’s how this system plays out at Microsoft, where it is most famously used (now that Enron is no more – yeah, they used “rank and yank” there too) and how the same system is now going to be used on teachers – pitting every teacher against every other teacher:

http://mynorthwest.com/646/702398/Astonishingly-foolish-management-at-Microsoft

Basically the system is as rigged as LIBOR rates – every teacher will eventually come up “ineffective”. And as you can see from the Microsoft stories, because the system pits every employee against every other employee, it creates internal struggled and tensions, brings discord and unhealthy competition and is ultimately poisonous.

Which is why Andy Cuomo, Meryl Tisch, John King, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, Arne Duncan, Barack Obama want this system in place – it ensures that states, municipalities and districts will have no shortage of “bad” teachers to fire every year and reinforces the corporate education reform meme that there are many “bad” and “ineffective” teachers out there.

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:58:00 +0000

I have a question: My understanding is that if this evaluation is based on a bell curve. Does that mean there will always be a certain/fixed amount of teachers to be rated “ineffective”? In other words, there will always be a set number of teachers who will be getting fired every 2 years. Any info on this would be appreciated.

By: where bis the Raw data

where bis the Raw data — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:06:00 +0000

“6% recieve ineffective” as did a similar number of Administrators—BECAUSE its a BELL curve that ASSUMES whatever you want and manufactures data any way you want!-What about raw numbers or better yet publish the scattergram so we can see where they arbitrarily drew the line.

By: Nycdoenuts

Nycdoenuts — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Actually, the state scores will count for 25% of teacher ratings, for grades 4-8, ELA and Math. The extra 5% will be coming from the locally approved measures section (which will be worth only 15% for those teachers). The state was supposed to wait until the system had been successfully in place, but then came out with a few documents indicating they were going to use the 25-15 from day one.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:53:00 +0000

Cuomo makes no argument, no swaying plea, no suggestions of compromise or common ground, nothing. Just a deadline with an ‘or else’ attached.

So lame. So high atop to way down.

Let’s hear more about PARCC.

By: Follow the Money

Follow the Money — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:20:00 +0000

How and where are teachers in the grades mentioned supposed to be receiving these?