Do you think it is fair to judge teachers solely on their students performance levels on state tests?

Question

Today, many teachers are under major stress due to the “No Child Left Behind" accountability piece. Teachers across the country are being judged, hired, and fired based on the performance levels of their students. This somewhat gives the impression that teachers are miracle workers, and that they are the only soles responsible for making sure a student succeeds. When, where, and how are parents and other stakeholders in our communities held accountable. All the stress and teachers remain one of the most underpaid professions! Many people are running from the profession, and not because they don't have a love for children, but simply because it is not worth the stress and possible medical bills (due to anxiety). When is everyone going to be HELD accountable? When will teachers receive the pay they deserve for the miracles they are asked to perform?

Answer 1

Let's say you've got four 3rd grade teachers at your school.

Let's say that 3 of them have 90% passing rate on the tests taken by their students.

Let's say one teacher has only 10% passing rate.

I'd look at the students in her class and see if they have a history with past teachers of low scores.

If they don't, I'd want to meet with the teacher and find out what's wrong.

If the other teachers are teaching kids from the same pool as this teacher, I'd think her methods aren't geared toward the tests.

It's a shame too because some teachers are really great with kids and the kids may be learning more with these teachers, but the tests are a big deal to the folks in charge.

I'm a teacher too and I agree with you that teaching is very stressful.

It's unfortunate that the only thing that's important now to folks is test scores.

Answer 2

I agree, teachers should be judged on how well they teach. Maybe a government official could watch a teacher give a lesson and then grade them.

Answer 3

I agree with all of the problems you mentioned, but keep in mind that in every job, people are judged on the performance of their jobs as they were defined by higher authorities.  If I am an accountant, and a wonderful person, but my job was defined as error-free numbers, I have to be judged negatively if I make a lot of numerical mistakes.  The friendly bus driver with a perfect driving record, but who is always late, isn't performing according to standards either.  If teachers are now expected to be test prep experts, rather than general teachers, then yes, it is fair to judge teachers on how well their students do on tests, unfortunately.

Answer 4

kids should not be judged soly on state tests, because some kids are not as good at taking tests, i for one am smart but dont get the best of grades on my tests

Answer 5

FYI: I did not read all of the extra stuff but I will answer your main question.

I would also like to make it clear that I am 100% against "No Child Left Behind" Act. And I do support President Bush in all of his other decisions.

Some students do you fair to well on test. Although they may have great grades.

Answer 6

Something that I don't think has been mentioned with this is working with children with learning differences.  I do not agree with this concept of paying teachers based on student performance based on a single test.

What about the teacher who has a student who enters their third grade class at a first grade reading level and with kindergarten math skills?  Come May, this student has not reached grade level expectations yet, and therefore has a very slim chance of passing any major test.

However, that same child now reads at an early third grade reading level, and is completing math lessons at an early second grade level.  Did that child pass the grade level requirements for third grade?  Not necessarily.  Did they learn a lot and grow a lot.  Totally.  

If we were to judge/pay/grade teachers on these single day or short-time-frame assessments, it would be very unfair.  Children are unpredictable.  Who knows if the child got on the bus that morning after they had not slept because parents were arguing?  What about the child whose goldfish died that morning?  What about the child whose grandparent is very sick?  There mind is not going to be on the test, and they probably won't do too well.

There are too many variables with these state tests, and truly, how can growth and learning really be measured by a fill in the bubble, single time frame assessment?  True learning is measured by the progress students make throughout the year.

I agree, that if year after year (and I'd only look at 3 years or so) one classroom has students constantly under performing on the assessment, there is definitely something to look at.  But if you're really looking at things each year, and notice a pattern like that in one year, any good teacher will look for resources to see what they can do to make adjustments.

Answer 7

I think performance standards and the tests linked to them helped me as a teacher to focus on key learning objectives.  However, we all know that judging a teacher on a particular grade level with the other teachers on her grade level is fraught with problems.   Even though most principals try to balance classes in terms of ability level, gender, race, etc., that doesn't always work out.  Let's say a teacher has a class where most of her students do extremely well, but one or two students do very poorly.   When her scores are averaged, they might be lower than another teacher's scores where the students all scored average.  Test scores alone are not sufficient or correct data for judging teacher performance.

A fairer way to use test scores is to look at a teacher's scores over several years.  If her students score very low every year, despite the fact that she has good students, and that her principal has given her feedback, a mentor or some special training, judgements must be made.

However, looking at test scores alone is still not the best way to evaluate teacher performance.  In Georgia, teachers are observed 3 times a year on criteria they have been taught.   The purpose is to improve teaching, not to judge, but judgements must be made if a teacher consistently uses ineffective teaching strategies or cannot control the behavior of her students.

Other criteria might include communication with parents, either through weekly newsletters and teacher -parent conferences, participation in school wide activities, ability to work with other teachers at one's grade level to improve instruction, ability to keep calm in emergency situations.

Multiple measures are needed.  Teaching is very complex. Too many people are still tied to a simplistic factory method of schooling in which children are seen as raw materials to be  developed into intellectual standouts.  Oh, if it were only that easy.

I'm glad you mentioned pay.  I believe that teachers need to be paid salaries comparable to what other professionals make.    Until then, the most qualified teachers will continue to go into other professions.

Answer 8

What also isn't taken into consideration is the type of school in which a teacher teaches.  Inner city and/or high poverty schools are always going to have a much higher incidence of low test scores.  In my district, they go through every few years and fire EVERYONE working in inner city schools that don't perform to their satisfaction (the schools don't perform, not the individual teachers, but all the staff gets fired).  No one ever considers that the teachers are doing the same job there that the others are doing across town, but that the students themselves are different.  I think the NCLB plan is a crock.  I used to teach in an inner city school and you are right...I had to take anti-anxiety meds, my menstrual cycle stopped, my car got stolen, my things got stolen, I got kicked, cursed at, watched kids get arrested all the time.  These things, plus the fear of getting fired because the kids aren't 'performing to standards' makes people run from the inner city schools and they just can't keep teachers.  The reality is, all kids ARE NOT the same, and sticking our heads in the sand and pretending they are will get us no where.