News - Local
New Rules For Teachers?
Posted: May 20, 2010 6:02 PM by Letitia Walker
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A proposal sought by Gov. Bobby Jindal
to grade public school teachers partially based on student test
scores is headed to debate by the full Senate.
But the Senate Education Committee only approved the measure
(House Bill 1033) Thursday after adding the requirement that
charter school teachers and administrators be subjected to the same
type of evaluations as public school teachers and administrators.
The bill by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, would rewrite
the evaluation process to tie at least half of a teacher's review
to student performance data - looking at how much improvement
students make on standardized tests. Teachers with poor reviews
would get intensive assistance. If they don't improve, they would
be dismissed.
Up to 27 school systems would use the new teacher evaluation
method next year. After two years of the so-called "value-added
assessment" system, a legislative panel would determine whether to
expand the system to all school districts starting in the 2012-13
school year.
Supporters said the evaluations would reward good teachers and
improve school performance.
"We want to be sure that teachers understand this is not a
witchhunt. We are not out to destroy them," said Sen. Gerald Long,
R-Winnfield.
Teacher unions oppose the measure, arguing it is an unfair and
untested system of judgment.
Opponents say standardized tests can't adequately measure the
success of a teacher. They also say the review wouldn't give enough
consideration to problems with parents who don't stress the
importance of education and with children who don't show
initiative.
The House approved the bill in a 68-26 vote. The Senate
Education Committee moved it to the Senate floor with a 6-1 vote.
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