The new standardized test students across the state are taking accounts for about one quarter of teachers’ evaluations, something which has irked some educators. However, this afternoon that rule could change.
To be clear, this year the evaluation will not count because the state applied for and received a waiver to do so because many educators said having a new test and new evaluation system was too much for teachers and students. That would change the following year.
This afternoon, the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council will meet to discuss the matter and most likely modify it. If they do, it will then go to the state board of education for final approval. If revised, leaders say it will replace the reliance of a single test with an array of assessments. Many teachers have expressed concern.
“I just feel like with the teacher evaluation system we definitely need evaluation but we need evaluation that’s authentic so we’re looking at observations that are happening throughout the year rather then these formalized ones,” said Jessica Lecours, a special education teach in Hartford.
The system has already been tweaked several times including reducing the number of times administrators can observe classroom teachers in action.
Read more about this story at courant.com.