Testing refusal rates in your district

[undertheradar]

You asked how many teachers were penalized or fired because of tests scores last year. None, because that wasn't part of their evaluation before this year.

So this new evaluation is required, after school year contracts are signed? Not buying it.

 

[Kbee]

You asked how many teachers were penalized or fired because of tests scores last year. None, because that wasn't part of their evaluation before this year.

I thought that the tests were part of their evaluation, 20%.

 

[msjprincess]

I thought that the tests were part of their evaluation, 20%.

You're right it is something like that. But it's not enough that a teacher could be labeled "ineffective" based solely on the test score.

 

[usd2bmd]

It is a very big movement in NY right now because of the way Cuomo is using them, and the fact that they are not well written. Student's performance on them now accounts for 50% of a teacher's evaluation, which many think is unfair.

I think most people agree kids should be tested. But the tests should make sense, and teachers should have some idea of what is on them. (Right now they do not, so preparing students for them has been a challenge.)

Cuomo wants 50% of a teacher's eval to be based on if their kid's scored improved. (Not passed.. improved. So if you get a 98% one year and a 96% the next it counts against the teacher.)

I believe then 30% is an outsider watching one lesson, and 20% from the school principal who actually knows the teacher. I don't think the opt-out is as much about the test as it is a support for NY teachers. Overall, poverty is what contributes to low test scores, not poor teaching. He is not focusing on that, and instead is throwing very hard working, underpaid, under-appreciated people under the bus to further his agenda of having big business run the schools.

We are in the town next to Fairport that seems to be leading the upstate revolt. My son is in 8th grade and said his class was about 1/2 full. He also said the test was very choppy. Every question said, "go back and read line __" and it was difficult to flip back and forth.

This is a famous question from my DDs 8th grade test. (I kid you not.) There have even been t-shirts designed with the moral as the tag line. Enjoy!



The Hare and the Pineapple

by Daniel Pinkwater

In olden times, the animals of the forest could speak English just like you and me. One day, a pineapple challenged a hare to a race.

(I forgot to mention, fruits and vegetables were able to speak too.)

A hare is like a rabbit, only skinnier and faster. This particular hare was known to be the fastest animal in the forest.

"You, a pineapple have the nerve to challenge me, a hare, to a race," the hare asked the pineapple. "This must be some sort of joke."

"No," said the pineapple. "I want to race you. Twenty-six miles, and may the best animal win."

"You aren't even an animal!" the hare said. "You're a tropical fruit!"

"Well, you know what I mean," the pineapple said.


The animals of the forest thought it was very strange that tropical fruit should want to race a very fast animal.

"The pineapple has some trick up its sleeve," a moose said.

Pineapples don't have sleeves, an owl said

"Well, you know what I mean," the moose said. "If a pineapple challenges a hare to a race, it must be that the pineapple knows some secret trick that will allow it to win."

"The pineapple probably expects us to root for the hare and then look like fools when it loses," said a crow. "Then the pineapple will win the race because the hare is overconfident and takes a nap, or gets lost, or something."

The animals agreed that this made sense. There was no reason a pineapple should challenge a hare unless it had a clever plan of some sort. So the animals, wanting to back a winner, all cheered for the pineapple.

When the race began, the hare sprinted forward and was out of sight in less than a minute. The pineapple just sat there, never moving an inch.

The animals crowded around watching to see how the pineapple was going to cleverly beat the hare. Two hours later when the hare cross the finish line, the pineapple was still sitting still and hadn't moved an inch.

The animals ate the pineapple.

MORAL: Pineapples don't have sleeves

And the two questions:

1. Why did the animals eat the pineapple?
a. they were annoyed
b. they were amused
c. they were hungry
d. they wanted to

2. Who was the wisest?
a. the hare
b. moose
c. crow
d. owl

I honestly have no words for this... I live in New York and feel for the parents that are going through this right now. But selfishly I am thanking my lucky stars that my daughter graduated last year.

 

[Kbee]

You're right it is something like that. But it's not enough that a teacher could be labeled "ineffective" based solely on the test score.

Yes, you are right.
I was just trying to let those who didn't know, that these tests have been part of the teachers evaluation in the past. Its Cuomo's new plan that has them in an uproar, and rightfully so.

 

[usd2bmd]

Status symbol? How so? What kind of status could anyone attain by this?

The test isn't just a symbol. The test provides data on your children. Data that will then be used against schools and teachers. By refusing the tests in large numbers, we are hoping to skew the numbers. The data will be unusable if enough people opt out. I love the education that my children have received through public school. I have one in college who missed all this CC stuff. Two high schoolers and a middle schooler. It's the elementary school kids whose whole foundation for learning is being affected by this insane testing. It's heartbreaking and while I'm glad my kids missed the worst of it, it's not all about my kids. I care about what happens to all children.

This is how I feel as well... I am glad that my daughter is past this, but it blows my mind that they are using these tests as such a large part of the evaluations. This is why I was so happy to see large numbers of kids opting out. The common sense in me says that they have to look at it and go back to the drawing board to come up with a better system, but the bystander who watches Govt. knows that this isn't nearly enough to make them admit they got it wrong the first time.

 

[erin1715]

You're right it is something like that. But it's not enough that a teacher could be labeled "ineffective" based solely on the test score.

It's going to be 50% of their evaluation going forward now. That is insanity and I think it's enough for a teacher to be labeled ineffective.

 

[undertheradar]

If teachers do such a great job, why the backlash? I understand that just like every other vocation, there are some bad apples. Just not understanding the doom and gloom attitude that teachers are presenting with regards to evaluations.

 

[Kbee]

If teachers do such a great job, why the backlash? I understand that just like every other vocation, there are some bad apples. Just not understanding the doom and gloom attitude that teachers are presenting with regards to evaluations.

Because 50% of their evaluation will be based on the these test scores. There are many factors that go into how a student scores, many that aren't under the teacher's control.

 

[undertheradar]

Because 50% of their evaluation will be based on the these test scores. There are many factors that go into how a student scores, many that aren't under the teacher's control.

What proof is there of this being 50% of evaluation?

 

[Kbee]

What proof is there of this being 50% of evaluation?

It is part of Gov Cuomo's education plan and was approved in our State budget. Do you live in NY?

 

[undertheradar]

It is part of Gov Cuomo's education plan and was approved in our State budget. Do you live in NY?

No, should I move there?

 

[Kbee]

No, should I move there?

I wouldn't if I were you LOL.

 

[sam_gordon]

I thought that the tests were part of their evaluation, 20%.

It's going to be 50% of their evaluation going forward now. That is insanity and I think it's enough for a teacher to be labeled ineffective.

Because 50% of their evaluation will be based on the these test scores. There are many factors that go into how a student scores, many that aren't under the teacher's control.

Somebody has their numbers wrong.

I wonder if those of you say teachers shouldn't be evaluated on the test, does that mean the test shouldn't, in anyway, be included in the evaluation, or are you just upset it's so much of the evaluation? If it's too much, how much is acceptable to you?

If no amount of the test is good, how should teachers be evaluated? Pretend you're the principal... what do you use to evaluate the teachers?

 

[msjprincess]

Somebody has their numbers wrong.

I wonder if those of you say teachers shouldn't be evaluated on the test, does that mean the test shouldn't, in anyway, be included in the evaluation, or are you just upset it's so much of the evaluation? If it's too much, how much is acceptable to you?

If no amount of the test is good, how should teachers be evaluated? Pretend you're the principal... what do you use to evaluate the teachers?

No the numbers aren't wrong. Currently the tests count as 20% of the evaluation. With the new education plan they will count as 50%.

I don't think anyone said they shouldn't count at all. Just not 50%. With the new plan the tests count as 50%, observation from an outside source 30% and principal 20%.

 

[Kbee]

Somebody has their numbers wrong.

I wonder if those of you say teachers shouldn't be evaluated on the test, does that mean the test shouldn't, in anyway, be included in the evaluation, or are you just upset it's so much of the evaluation? If it's too much, how much is acceptable to you?

If no amount of the test is good, how should teachers be evaluated? Pretend you're the principal... what do you use to evaluate the teachers?

The numbers aren't wrong, the tests were worth 20% towards a teacher's evaluation. Cuomo's new plan makes them worth 50%. I'm not against evaluations of teachers, but I don't think so much weight should be put on these tests.

 

[nugov2]

Here is something I just don't understand. Don't students on IEPS have communication logs? Every single student who receives any type of services and have an IEP have a log between resource/teachers /parents. Isn't there any accountability? This is something that is filled out for every meeting with the child in every district I have been in and the district my kids are currently in. The parents would know if their child isn't receiving services unless the teachers flat out lie in that log. That boggles my mind that whole schools of children can go weeks without services and not one parent would take the school to task for it.

50% is too high. It should be 20-30% and should measure growth not be pass/fail. I still think opting out will do nothing because the message is too muddled. Some are complaining CC and too much teaching to the test, some saying test is too hard, some too high stakes. I just feel like it is all over the place with SO much exaggerating and misinformation that the movement looks like a fad that the people involved don't even understand.

 

[sam_gordon]

No the numbers aren't wrong. Currently the tests count as 20% of the evaluation. With the new education plan they will count as 50%.

I don't think anyone said they shouldn't count at all. Just not 50%. With the new plan the tests count as 50%, observation from an outside source 30% and principal 20%.

Thank you for the explanation (and Kbee). Where's the other 80% come from now? Do the teachers know when they're being observed from an outside source? Where does the "outside source" come from?

None of these questions are meant to be snarky, so I apologize if they come off that way. I am simply trying to get some facts.

 

[Kbee]

Thank you for the explanation (and Kbee). Where's the other 80% come from now? Do the teachers know when they're being observed from an outside source? Where does the "outside source" come from?

None of these questions are meant to be snarky, so I apologize if they come off that way. I am simply trying to get some facts.

I found this. I know in our district the students take a district test at the beginning of the year, and again at the end to measure their growth. I'm assuming that fulfills the 2nd 20% in the list.

• 20 percent of teachers’ ratings come from state measures of student growth
• 20 percent comes from local measures of student growth
• 60 percent comes from subjective measures such as observations

 

[sam_gordon]

I found this. I know in our district the students take a district test at the beginning of the year, and again at the end to measure their growth. I'm assuming that fulfills the 2nd 20% in the list.

• 20 percent of teachers’ ratings come from state measures of student growth
• 20 percent comes from local measures of student growth
• 60 percent comes from subjective measures such as observations

So currently 40% is based on testing (whether state or local) and 60% from observation. The new plan is 50%/50%, right?