Post by Chris_Wendt on Jun 3, 2015 11:34:29 GMT -5
A highly regarded Great Neck elementary school teacher has won the right to sue NYSED over a Professional Performance Rating of "Ineffective" for that part of her APPR that is derived from Common Core Assessment scores, specifically the "growth" score, which requires teachers (and principals, schools and school districts) to perpetually improve student scores, year over year over year, ad infinitum.
NYSED had attempted to block this lawsuit, citing (a) the teacher's overall rating was "effective", and noting that her APPR results were confidential (except to parents of her students who requested to see them). Her contention, the basis for her suit, is that her reputation has been damaged by the release of her "ineffective" performance rating concerning the test score improvements required, and that the science, or logic behind using test scores in the manner describe was flawed.
I have previously noted (written) that APPR does not protect schools districts (or the state) from teacher due process actions, like this lawsuit, or from expensive, long drawn-out 3020a proceedings. Add to the long established state of the LAW concerning due process for tenured teachers, the questionable aspects of assigning performance evaluation weighting to specious tests (from which parents can "opt out" at will), and I am positive the state (and all ~700 NY school districts) shall continue to face expensive legal challenges from aggrieved teachers, and see very little by way of improved teacher performance, if such performance is going to be tied to test scores, meaning tied to unreliable and inconsistent scores on bad tests for which many students do not even sit.
Attempting to use the Common Core and APPR to circumvent the long established protections of tenure is avoiding the real issue, the need to change Section 3020a of NY Education Law to allow principals to recommend discipline against ineffective teachers, such recommendations to be adjudicated by school superintendents, with the final right of appeal resting with the Board of Education, and not with an arbitrator or arbitration panel. Of course, hardly anyone in the State Legislature has the political courage to propose or vote for such a change. So, let's stop kidding ourselves about APPR and the role of Common Core Assessment in teacher appraisals.
Sheesh!
Chris Wendt
NYSED had attempted to block this lawsuit, citing (a) the teacher's overall rating was "effective", and noting that her APPR results were confidential (except to parents of her students who requested to see them). Her contention, the basis for her suit, is that her reputation has been damaged by the release of her "ineffective" performance rating concerning the test score improvements required, and that the science, or logic behind using test scores in the manner describe was flawed.
I have previously noted (written) that APPR does not protect schools districts (or the state) from teacher due process actions, like this lawsuit, or from expensive, long drawn-out 3020a proceedings. Add to the long established state of the LAW concerning due process for tenured teachers, the questionable aspects of assigning performance evaluation weighting to specious tests (from which parents can "opt out" at will), and I am positive the state (and all ~700 NY school districts) shall continue to face expensive legal challenges from aggrieved teachers, and see very little by way of improved teacher performance, if such performance is going to be tied to test scores, meaning tied to unreliable and inconsistent scores on bad tests for which many students do not even sit.
Attempting to use the Common Core and APPR to circumvent the long established protections of tenure is avoiding the real issue, the need to change Section 3020a of NY Education Law to allow principals to recommend discipline against ineffective teachers, such recommendations to be adjudicated by school superintendents, with the final right of appeal resting with the Board of Education, and not with an arbitrator or arbitration panel. Of course, hardly anyone in the State Legislature has the political courage to propose or vote for such a change. So, let's stop kidding ourselves about APPR and the role of Common Core Assessment in teacher appraisals.
Sheesh!
Chris Wendt