New York won $700 million in Race to the Top funding, which involved a commitment to measure teacher effective meant in significant part by test scores of their students. This theory, which Arne Duncan has imposed on the nation’s schools by using federal funds as a lure, has not worked anywhere. It has failed everywhere. Its main consequence is to demoralize teachers, like the one who wrote this comment:
“I am sick to my stomach over this APPR plan in NY. I just received my score, and I am two points away from being “effective” as a teacher. I scored 58/60 on my instructional practices which is effective. I scored effective on my local measurement, and I scored developing on my state measurement which was the ELA 7th grade exam.
“My students, as well as many others, tanked on the exam, so because of that, I am now a teacher who has to have an improvement plan. What should my plan include? More test prep? Teaching kids how to bubble in circles?
“This whole plan is absurd. I know I make a difference in children’s lives. This testing obsession is ruining education, our children, and our teachers. I come in early, leave late, work at home, volunteer for a million things, and yet am now deemed developing by some politically driven evaluation plan.
“Cuomo should come in and do what I do on a daily basis. He would get eaten alive. I’m actually questioning whether I can teach for the next 20 years. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but this APPR garbage is effectively forcing out some of the best teachers I’ve worked with. I may be next.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
” I’m actually questioning whether I can teach for the next 20 years. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but this APPR garbage is effectively forcing out some of the best teachers I’ve worked with. I may be next.”
And that sadly is the purpose.
Reblogged this on Transparent Christina.
Shame on President Obama, Arne Duncan, Governor Cuomo and Commissioner King. Allowing this demonizing and demoralization of our country’s best teachers is beyond words or comprehension. But I do know, history will judge your silence harshly.
I applaud this writer and all our working, committed teachers. I also am aware of many lifelong educators who are anticipating leaving or have already left the profession because of the insanity. The beginning teachers and the school community are losing the wisdom of experience and I worry for this loss and the future of our schools .
I totally “get” what you are saying. Why would anyone want to subject themselves to this kind of “evaluation”? Not for the amount of money we get paid. It isn’t worth it. The stress is horrible. Just think if a scientist were be evaluating on the performance of his chemicals, and for some reason one of them was compromised in someway with him/her knowing it. Is it that scientist’s “fault”? Of course, not. But, considering that there a thousand things that can impact the student’s ability to perform well on a given day, how is the test relevant to the teacher’s value? It isn’t. But, this is sure a way to weed out as many as possible so that only the drones will be left. And, even then, they will realize that they can’t subject themselves to this idiocy day-in and day-out. With 10 “drop-in” evaluations on whichever domain the evaluator wants to “see in action” … one might be slightly off his/her game at any given moment, for thousands of reasons.
Teaching is a living, breathing, organic communication between the teacher and the child. It isn’t some regimented, static, unfeeling, dead data driven checklist.
This is why I retired. Even with good scores, we were told that we shouldn’t be so confident once the CCSS goes into effect and once the kids take the PARCC tests. What I am “hearing” recently is that the tests are like the Pearson program Successmaker Math, with which I was not totally impressed. It has some good features. But, it isn’t totally intuitive as to how to perform. Also, when a child misses a question, another one shows up to sort of remediate. That is good, but in a testing situation, where time is often of the essence, how in the heck is a kid who is very SLOW going to fare? Poorly. Or a kid who is highly distractable? Or a kid who has difficulty reading the screen because of vision issues or reading issues? The problems are many. The solutions haven’t been hammered out. Yet, we want to subject the students to this and use it to make teachers throw up their hands in despair. Education as I know it and believe in it is gone. I don’t even dislike technology. I used it. Eno board, document camera, ipads, computer labs, successmaker, accelerated reader, interactive websites, teachertube, discovery channel videos, computer field trips, daily news and weather … I am not an old-fashioned teacher that won’t give tech a chance. I just feel it isn’t appropriate to insert it in this fashion and to assume that because kids love x-box that the x-box is their best teacher. If I am wrong, and “they” are correct, then God help us all.
“Teaching is a living, breathing, organic communication between the teacher and the child. It isn’t some regimented, static, unfeeling, dead data driven checklist.”
yes! Thank you. Very well stated.
When we start with the PARCC tests it’s going to be a disaster. You listed a lot of really good examples of why it’s no good aside from the computer glitches. I’ve given tests on the computer to some students and on paper to others- and when students take tests on paper they do significantly better.
I am convinced that the true purpose of this supposed “evaluation” is to push out experienced teachers so they can be replaced by less expensive ones. This is especially true in cash-strapped urban districts.
Because testing experts themselves generally agree that there is no group test that can measure the progress of every child in the class, as well as the effectiveness of the teacher, I believe the courts will eventually come to the rescue of unfairly dismissed teachers. This is what I hope to see:
It’s not that difficult to measure the progress of a student, but of course it must be done on an individual basis, especially for children under fourteen. Each teacher should keep careful records (tests, classwork, compositions etc.) of each child’s progress. Witnesses (parents, teachers, administrators) should be involved. If the teacher gets an “ineffective” rating based on one test or two group tests, she should take her portfolio evidence to administrators, union officials and labor attorneys to see if anything can be done. Try the ACLU.
If a teacher is told that “nothing can be done” try for a teaching position in a high-scoring district or a private school.
It’s only a matter of time until this disgraceful treatment of teachers is part of a shameful past. States that didn’t fall for it will feel proud. Until then, each teacher must decide the best way to deal with it. My heart goes out to each and every one of you.
Excellent advice. But what you’ve described sounds like a whole lot of work.
I may have an easier way. I would advise that we should administer a pretest, sampling every standard in our curriculum, on day 1. Then, we should administer that same test, perhaps rearranging the items, at the end of the course. This allows us to gather our own growth data.
Really, this is the way it should be done – pretest and posttest. It is not fair that my growth be measured based on projected scores from the class that precedes mine. They have some of the highest scores in the state. How am I supposed to follow that act? I have actually been suspicious of cheating on their particular test – by the teachers – and I have collected what I believe is some evidence for a future day should I need it. I will not go into the details, but I have the evidence.
But the class that precedes mine is also AYP and counts towards our administrators’ evaluation. So they keep the numbers low, and pile on the resources, including a special boot camp remediation right before the test for those students who teachers feel may fail. I get none of those resources, and my classes are filled to the brim – partly because we spend so much money reducing class sizes in the AYP classes so the administrators look good.
If I were to receive low growth scores, which is very possible, there is no way in the world that a level-headed judge would allow any termination action – no way. I also bring in good evaluation ratings from my administrators. But it is possible that my growth outcomes bring me down.
You’re definitely right about one thing – it will take a massive legal effort to fight this. And it may just happen. If the wrong people get “hurt” by these evaluations, and can network for a class action suit, surely they will win.
It’s just a matter of time.
Yes, it would be a lot of work. Sadly, teachers are not trusted right now and a pre and post test given by her would likely not be accepted. To prove her effectiveness, she’ll need a lot of proof and several reliable witnesses.
A lawyer who posts here has said that bringing these cases to court will not be easy because (I think) teachers cannot challenge their evaluations. Still, there are labor laws in this country and it is very hard to believe that a person could lose her job based on a group tests that experts say are not suitable for “high-stakes” decisions. We’ll have to wait and see. I’m betting on teachers coming out on top because they almost always do.
@Linda: And what better way to assure that you can push out the experienced teachers than to break the union’s hold on them, stopping collective bargaining in its tracks, taking away legal recourse. I think, while it can, NEA needs to file a class action law suit against this type of teacher evaluation. I am not a rabid pro-union person. I think moderation needs to be in place when making some demands. I voted on an issue once that really bothered me afterwards. I voted one way, and my husband was on the school board, may have been President that year. I cried and cried all day because of my split loyalties. But, this situation has gotten out of hand and there needs to be a way to stop it. I think that legally, the only way is for NEA to stand up to this insanity. I am not sure, though, if they have bought in to it. There site seems to have jumped on board, even when they post articles about the misuse of money and abuse of people in their updates. To whom do any of us turn?
NEA has been bought by Gates, and maybe others. Don’t look to them for help.
Sadly so. It is horrifying, here, a few days after Labor Day, to find ourselves in a situation in which the teachers’ unions are complicit in this evil. But such is the case, clearly.
The deformers are doing a LOT of damage. That they don’t see this has the same root as their simple-minded, across-the-board “solutions” to a simplistically conceived “education problem.” They haven’t any deep experience as educators and have even made this lack into some sort of virtue.
Exhibit A: Arne Duncan.
Exhibit B: Michelle Rhee.
Exhibit C: Jeb Bush
Exhibit D: Bill Gates
History tells us that injustices are often corrected when a few courageous individuals stand up and say “This is not right.”
Somewhere in the United States right now is a school administrator who sees that one of her best teachers is being labeled “ineffective” based on whole group test scores. She’ll likely go to this teacher and say, “You and I know how far your students come each year and the parents know it too. This is what we’ll do: We’ll give each child a pretest in September and carefully document his progress over the year. I’ll help you and I’ll get Miss Smith, reading teacher, to help also. We’ll get parents involved and ask for their written input. At the end of the year, we’ll go to the superintendent, who is a fair person. Hopefully, he’ll fight for you.” That superintendent will confer with an attorney and they’ll hatch a plan that will get the attention of citizens and politicians. It will result in a fair evaluation of teachers.
Oh, it will happen. It just might take time.
I am both a parent and a teacher and this is what I think.
Teachers have a case of Stockholm syndrome..afraid to speak out against the abuse. And parents are fools to think a new test means teachers are not doing their job. There is only one way to come out of this: Parents and teachers have to talk and work together. The divisiveness has been carefully orchestrated for a reason…defensive teachers and angry taxpayers pitted against each other.
Teachers, you have nothing to lose by fighting back. This plan does not have a place for you and your job is tenuous at best….take the side of the parents and do what is right for the kids.
Parents, the damage will not be apparent in your children for a few years. Take back your children’s education. Work with the teachers to save your children.
I agree with you that teachers need to just be on the side of the parents. But, you would (maybe) be surprised at how locked the teachers’ hands are, esp when there is no union. Administrators can fire a teacher at will. And, we are told by our principals that we have no business “talking to the parents” even if they are our neighbors, unless we are being supportive of what is happening. Believe me, teachers talked about the idiotic writing program we were forced to teach, about the prinicipal’s behavior, about other objectional things, and they were told to cease and desist … or else. It isn’t as easy as it may appear. Most teachers have a lot of money invested in their careers and in teaching materials and an emotional investment in the job.
Now, if the parents would start up a “teacher support initiative” based upon the tests, the evaluations, the invalidity of the tests, and if they would stand strong, then teachers might be able to get on board with that … safety in numbers. But, in any situation, you have the ‘brown nosers” who will only do what they believe is best for themselves independently. Some parents think they could jeopardize a child’s grades … but I have never known one teacher who ever hurt a child’s grades because their parent was “acting out”. So, what I am saying is, there needs to be TRUST build among the teachers and parents insofar as going to board meetings, standing up to principals, going to PTO/PTA meetings, offering support. Yes, teachers are human and we aren’t always perfect, but you can bet that we love your kids. Your support could actually change the world. Support v demands. What will bring about a win-win? I think we know. 🙂
You are 100% right. The parents must pay attention and lead this in so many ways. It is insensitive for me to even think teachers have the luxury of risking their job; I’m in a different position where I am no longer in the classroom, but still involved in education.
But I am watching years and years of my own experience and graduate school and certification endorsements go down the drain with this entire movement as non-educational business “leaders” are allowed to change or bypass laws to get into positions of authority take over education.
This facebook page is helpful: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PEACCS/
But the movement has to happen in each and every town.
I don’t think good teachers will be able to take all of this for very much longer.
I agree. Thanks.
thenextlevel2000, teachers will put up with it so long as the economy is in a shambles and unable to provide them with much in the way of better alternatives. Can you guess what the neoliberal puppet masters have planned for the economy?
Read this quote from new york teacher who was not rated effective due to 7th graders test scores in state b.s. tests.
Sent from my iPhone
Linda Johnson has it on the money literally. Until we stand up and fight nothing is going to happen. This is war whether you like it or not. War has its rules. Educators do not play by those rules. They play tiddly winks rules and thermonuclear warfare tanks tiddly winks. I am amazed at the total lack of analysis except by a few. No one runs the budgets. No one double checks. By checking a power point yesterday put up by a commenter on the LAUSD I-Pads I discovered that it was more than double the stated cost in their own power point if you just divided two numbers. Too easy. The I-Pads are really $1,962 each. This makes the original buy over $1.16 billion not $500 million. Just a small mistake right? Are you kidding, this was planned all the time as they know only a few even know how to do it and except for a very small number no one looks or checks even when it is in their face.
I have this argument constantly with people here in L.A. that you have to believe you can win. You cannot have the attitude of we lost. They literally smell the fear and loser attitude and you are finished. History has shown that a few at the right time if they make the correct moves can change everything. Look at the middle east. One poor vendor mad who lit himself on fire lit up the entire middle ease and no one had a clue as to what was coming down. Asleep at the wheel to not see the frustration building over there. Let us be the ones who change it. We have put many wrenches in their works here in California. Now we need to break apart their machine.
Maybe it’s time for teachers to create a documentary and tell the rest of the story.
“I’m actually questioning whether I can teach for the next 20 years. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but this APPR garbage is effectively forcing out some of the best teachers I’ve worked with.”
APPR is how we rate teachers in New York State!
The UFT leadership is a disgrace for agreeing to this. My colleagues and I just endured a pd on the Advance Teacher Evaluation. It is a 100% GOTCHA system. For Mulgrew to tell us that this a great thing is absolutely unforgivable. We need new UFT leadership.
Admin now have the tools to nail whoever they want. And they will do it knowing the state of NY backs them up.
Has anyone ever realized how POWERFUL teachers REALLY ARE? What would happen if:
Teachers REFUSED to allow their children to take STANDARDIZED tests.
Teachers ONLY teaching the tests. Sometimes teachers need to give EVERYONE what they want.
Send home test practice questions EVERYDAY. No less than 25-30 questions three or four times a week. Make sure that you count the practice tests as tests and quizzes.
Wore t-shirts from your home state with how much each test costs.
Show up to work and REMAIN SILENT since we won’t be heard.
Create flyers with the TRUTH about charters and public education.
I opted my sons out of the testing this last spring, but I’ve just learned that due to Utah’s charming new grade system, if my boys and a few others opt out, the school won’t have 95% participation and will automatically fail. A local high school which is strong and should have gotten a “B” got an “F” because THREE STUDENTS didn’t take the test. So now I don’t dare because I don’t want my schools labeled failing. It’s not as easy as you make it sound, Dwayne. I wish it was.
I still believe that we all have to stand up to this. Our power is in our numbers. Yesterday was my first day back at school. There was an email awaiting us from the Assistant Director of Technology warning us that our participation in blogs is an extension of our classrooms! That’s my right to free speech they’re messing with and I won’t stand for it.
But you know that the school is not “failing” so what does it matter what the label is?
Sami – Unfortunately, real estate value is actually connected to performance on these tests. It’s insane.
Prince Cuomo is out to destroy public education in NYS. It may be time for a class action lawsuit against the state, they have created a perfect instrument whose sole purpose is to destroy our public schools. They have defamed thousands of professional and highly qualified teachers. They have developed a system to systematically fill their coffers with taxpayer dollars.
The evidence is mounting.. it’s time.
I agree.
What if teachers just ignored the test prep mania? I mean, if the tests and their cut scores are rigged to produce failing ratings, and there is every indication that is the case, why even pay any attention to it?
We have to get parent buy-in. The parents need to know what their children are learning, which is how to pass a series of tests that don’t provide meaningful measurements of skills and content. Parents need to demand that their children learn what children used to learn before the testing and accountability craze, which was put forth to create demand for a product that wasn’t really necessary.
The union delegates that represent the NYC principals, ap’s, and supervisors all advised their members at the end of Tuesday’s staff development meetings to write letters in protest to the DOE on the insanity of the new evaluations.
If the teachers AND their school administrators both have major problems with the evals’ , now is the time to organize a walkout or at least a “teach to the contract” action.
“I have advocated and I still advocate revolutionary change” -Assata Shakur
The damage that is being done by these fools is incalculable.
@#&*^(#%@&*(#&*@*&!!!!!
There. I’m glad I got that out.
Actually, I haven’t begun to “get that out.” I am enraged, as any decent, sane person would be. It’s the same story, everywhere, across the country. These people have to be stopped. What they are doing is criminal. It’s hurting children. It’s hurting those we rightly entrust our children to. The stakes are very, very high. I grieve when I read and hear stuff like this, and I do so all the time.
I would love to see every parent in the United States send back those test reports marked “Junk Mail.” For that’s what they are.
Reminder–the Garfield 12 (Seattle) REFUSED to give tests. They were not suspended.They were not fired. The parents supported them–I believe the 5age of students kept home during testing was 97% (someone please correct me if I’m wrong). The administrators were asked to give the test. However, with a low number of test takers, there was no relevant gathering of data. Foiled. Ended. Kiboshed. Wisely, the principal/superintendent did not dole out any punishment to the 12 teachers.
Read the book Educational Courage-Resisting the Ambush of Public Education. Chapter 17 will tell you how the Curie 12 (seems like 12 is a successful number!) refused to give the standardized test CASE. 12 brave teachers said, “No!” This caused a chain reaction–the CASE was discontinued, but not just for the 3,000 Curie students–for the ENTIRE Chicago Public School System–over 600 public schools,
400,000 students! No disciplinary action was taken against the teachers; rather, their
bravery saved 400,000 students from having their educational experience disrupted and wasted. TWELVE teachers affected this change!
Dwayne, concerned & rratto have it right–if TWELVE can stand up & do it (in two cases!), what can they do if EVERYONE did it?
“If you don’t stand up for something, you’ll fall for anything.” I’d amend that to–
If you don’t stand up for something, you will fall. And you WILL be mowed over.
Yes, WE can. And we WILL.