States strengthening teacher evaluation standards

WASHINGTON -- Teachers and principals' own report cards are getting a lot more attention.

The way educators are evaluated is changing across the country, with a switch from routine "satisfactory" ratings to actual proof that students are learning.

President Barack Obama's recent use of executive authority to revise the No Child Left Behind education law is one of several factors driving a trend toward using student test scores, classroom observation and potentially even input from students, among other measures, to determine just how effective educators are. A growing number of states are using these evaluations to decide critical issues such as pay, tenure, firings and the awarding of teaching licenses.

Two years ago, only four states used student achievement as a predominant influence in how teacher performance is assessed. Today, the number is 13, according to a recent report from the National Council on Teacher Quality. Ten other states count student achievement in a lesser but still significant way in teacher evaluations. In 19 states and the District of Columbia, teachers can be fired based on the results, the report said.

Even more changes are anticipated in coming months.

Obama said in September that states wanting relief from the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law could apply for a waiver from the law's tough-to-meet requirements for student achievement in reading and math. To get a waiver, one thing states must do is come up with ways to use teacher and principal evaluations to make personnel decisions.

In addition to Obama's waivers, a major driver has been the administration's high-profile "Race to the Top" competition, which had states competing for billions in prize dollars if they adopted stronger evaluation systems.

Sandi Jacobs, vice president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, said another factor is a growing body of research showing that teachers matter in how much students learn and an influential 2009 report by the New Teacher Project revealing that fewer than 1 percent of teachers surveyed receive unsatisfactory ratings — even in failing schools.

Historically, states have considered teacher evaluations to be untouchable, in part because of teachers unions.

"Once states started to see from other states that you could move this, the ball has continued to roll," Jacobs said.

More than test scores

In Stanislaus County, Turlock Unified bases their teacher evaluations in part on district tests students take several times a year.

In contract language, teacher performance shall include "the progress of pupils toward standards established by the district," said Superintendent Sonny Da Marto.

The use of district measures gets around the issue of what to use for teachers whose courses are not tested by the state, such as high school electives and physical education. State testing begins in second grade, leaving out kindergarten and first-grade teachers as well.

District tests are taken at intervals, showing progress as well as grade level. That is key for teachers of English-learners and struggling students, who often start the year far below grade level. Even strong gains by these students won't reflect well on a teacher if the only criteria is a high bar they still didn't reach.

Modesto City Schools teachers are evaluated on student engagement and quality of lessons, but student test scores are not part of the equation.

Megan Gowans of the Modesto Teachers Association said the union is against using student test scores alone in evaluations, but would be open to using multiple measures of student achievement.