Texas Education Commissioner Wants to Push New Teacher Evaluation Rollout Back Another Year

[TexasTowelie]

Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams wants an additional year to study a new state teacher evaluation system. The additional period would delay the official roll out for two years.

Commissioner Williams wrote a letter to federal education officials Wednesday, where he also requested the federal government extend a waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements.

In a statement, Williams said:

“Texas educators understand the need to update the current evaluation system to one that better reflects what’s occurring in today’s classroom. Texas is to develop an evaluation system that truly supports our teachers, we need time to complete the pilot year and then utilize the constructive feedback we will receive from our school districts, charters and educators.”

The pilot evaluation program will still start this school year, but the TEA will now have an additional year to evaluate the new system. When state education officials accepted a waiver from the No Child Left Behind requirements last September, it was required to develop a new teacher evaluation system that focused on student achievement. If not, the state risked losing billions in federal funding.

Now, officials say the timeline was too tight. Halfway through the pilot program, the 2015 legislative session begins and teacher evaluations are expected to be a hot- button issue. The new evaluation system has caused controversy because 20 percent ties teacher evaluations to student performance – including standardized tests. The other 80 percent is based on classroom observation, feedback and self-assessments. It’s the first time the state has changed teacher evaluations in 17 years.

More at http://kut.org/post/texas-wants-push-new-teacher-evaluation-rolllout-back-another-year .

[font color=green]In other words, we know that we failed but we don't want to lose the federal money. Since Rick Perry thinks that the Department of Education should be abolished, I wonder if he will step up to the plate and say "no" to taking the federal funds also?[/font]

[DhhD]

1. Currently, public schools segregate students by On-level, Pre-Advanced Placement, and

Advanced Placement at the High School level. How on Earth can the state and national testing standards and scores be used to rate teachers and/or given bonuses, in such a situation? No wonder it needs to be put off for two years. This would give time for learning level and instructional levels to be evened out over the class periods per day. And the students with special needs and rehabilitation needs must be sorted out as well. And past achievement has to be spread out evenly too.

Teachers with all Pre-AP and Advanced Placement students in past school years, will need to share with other teachers, in my opinion.