A teacher in Texas wrote this comment, which depicts (to me) a system where data matters more than teachers or learning or children, either the system is on autopilot or is run by people who confuse numbers with learning.
“They recruited from NC and from Spain (for bilingual teachers) this year because they did expect vacancies. I think it’s important to mention that all are not based on EVAAS because not everyone has those standardized scores. They are also based on Stanford testing in 1st and 2nd grade and for classes like PE, a district made assessment. I teach Kinder and am still waiting to find out what growth they calculated for my scores last year (and yes, they were bubble-in multiple choice tests). No one could explain to me how it was going to work, what percentage growth was required to be considered effective and how that was going to be calculated– so I’m very anxious about it. I was rated highly effective in the professional and instructional areas but who knows. We are supposed to use 2 different assessments for more validity but that doesn’t happen-they end up using the reading and math versions of the same test given the same week. I did wonder how many vacancies they had to start the new school year yesterday?”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Can we expect anything less from a GOP dominated state?
GOP does not have a monopoly on this craziness. Take for example Cuomo, a Democrat. Under him, Chappequa (where he lives) and the rest of NY state teachers have these Annual Professional Performance Review scores (APPRs) to meet:
Ineffective: 0-2
Developing: 3-8
Effective: 9-17
Highly Effective: 18-20
However, NYC teachers have to meet a different standard:
Ineffective: 0-12
Developing: 13-14
Effective: 15-17
Highly Effective: 18-20
Chappaqua APPR: http://www.ccsd.ws/files/filesystem/APPR_Plan_2013-2014_Approved.pdf
NYC APPR: http://www.uft.org/files/attachments/summing-it-up-eval-quickstart-april-2014.pdf
What possible reason could Cuomo have to do this? Prime example of twisting data to try to discredit New York City public school teachers.
The fact that some people — always the same some people people — misuse data and statistics may give data science a bad name, but what they do has nothing to do with the valid use of data and statistics.
You have many contributors with excellent investigative and quantitative skills who exemplify the human use of math. See Cathy O’Neil (MathBabe)’s blog for other examples of critical thinking about numbers in the social arena.
☞ http://mathbabe.org/
I agree. If the data is correct it should support an accurate study of learning. I don’t think we are against data–we are against the incorrect collection and interpretation of data.
Jill, we are against the misuse of data.
Define “accurate” by an example conjured as relevant to this teacher.
As much as I would like to blame it on Republican machinations, the same sort of data worship is occurring in Democrat arenas as well. Think of the profit in knowing exactly what makes people tick!
This is like India… Numbers rule the game
My school in TXis piloting the new vam base devaluation system: lucky me. Our superintendent is really excited to be the one to pilot this: even if it messes up our careers, she looks great for offering…
Based evaluation… But “devaluation” actually worked well hah!
I’m concerned about VAM as well. I teach both Pre-AP students and co-teach special ed students. Both demographics that don’t measure well with VAM. Well, I could always drive a truck or a bus. Probably make more money…
“The charter school systems of Florida and Michigan were set up under the explicit assumptions that choice and market forces could allow a massive government funded set of private companies to run with only minimal oversight and regulation. With Michigan’s public-policy experiment starting 20 years ago and Florida’s beginning not much later, it is time to start questioning the effectiveness of these policies and their cost to both taxpayers and, more importantly, to students.”
Wow. Blunt!
Here’s former Michigan governor Engler’s response to the charter scandals in Michigan:
“The oversight is ultimately the parent, just like it has always been,” Engler said. “The parent moved if (the traditional school) wasn’t working, but that was limited economically. It’s a question that misses the broader point: What goes on in schools should be the focus. The whole focus should be on education. … The structural questions, frankly, are missing the point.”
“I remembered Milton Friedman made what I thought then was a pretty bold statement. He said if we want to see meaningful change in public education, we’ve got to privatize it. His reasoning was that only through privatization comes competition, which drives up quality and drives down costs. Those are the two biggest challenges we had – and still have – in public education.”
J.C. Huizenga, chairman of National Heritage Academies, quoted in the Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools’ commemorative publication: 15 Years of Transforming Public Education.”
It’s just amazing that two national leaders in the ed reform movement, Jeb Bush and Engler, have created such absolutely crappy privatized systems IN THEIR HOME STATES. Yet, they are quoted constantly as experts, lecturing the rest of the country. Why are we all following these people?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/08/08/how-will-charter-schools-deal-with-their-corruption-scandals/
Ah Chiara, the goal is not education… They are very successful at destroying public education…
Here’s Arne Duncan, Engler and Mitch Daniels all singing from the same hymnal.
I love that no one says “what about MICHIGAN, right now, Governor Engler?”
The guy’s whole claim to fame is Michigan, yet we don’t discuss the actual charter schools in that state. Instead, he’s advising on the national policy plan. He was promoted to the big leagues? Why?
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/a-report-card-on-education-reform/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
When Daniels projected a federal budget surplus as far out as the eye could see
about fourteen years ago, was he simply setting the stage for the Bush
tax cuts?
I’m wondering if this teacher was in Houston ISD. That district’s evaluation system for teachers is seriously ineffective because it does look at the numbers (STAAR scores) and only the numbers (although they say there are other factors involved). We have a new administration at my school, and they are certainly only looking at the numbers. I’ll be posting my take on this same situation shortly.