Parsing growth and grossing the Parthenon
Kevin Carey criticizes Leo Casey‘s take on growth measures to evaluate teacher effectiveness. Casey cited a 2003 RAND Corp. study which cast doubt on the use of student-achievement growth measures to evaluate teachers (something pushed by the Aspen Commission).
"And you’re left like a zombie"
On advice from its counsel, the Pinellas County School Board (Florida) removed references to closing the white-black achievement gap from its strategic plan. So… if we ignore it, it’ll go away? Or at least make a lawsuit go away? (Extra credit to anyone who recognizes the source of the lyric, without googling it. Yes, of […]
The "tough love" talk begins on Aspen Commission
The spin has begun, with Diane Schemo’s NYT article Tougher Standards Urged for Federal Education Law, Leo Casey’s pointing out that growth models can’t accurately measure teacher contributions to student achievement, Michele McLaughlin’s identifying problems with the commission’s way of framing teacher effectiveness, Andy Rotherham’s saying it has plenty of small actionable ideas, and Kevin […]
Science is back, and you’re gonna be in trouble (Hey-la-day-la, …)
The Kansas Board of Education has eliminated science-standard references to non-natural explanations of natural phenomena. Whew.