In a bit of traveling last month, I ran into interesting practices I wanted to present here for discussion.
First, I met a teacher from a small New England system who said her photo, bio and salary were printed in the local newspaper when she accepted the job. While she understands teacher salaries are public records, she found it unnerving to discover her district routinely provides the photos and salaries of new hires for publication.
Is anyone aware of that occurring in Georgia? Does it seem invasive to welcome new teachers by putting their photos and their earnings in the newspaper?
Credit: Maureen Downey
Credit: Maureen Downey
Second, in a coffee shop in rural New Hampshire where I was seeking a mocha and Wi-Fi, I sat next to three women in the midst of a lively discussion of the best evaluators to employ to test their homeschooled children. I was intrigued by their debate as Georgia does not require annual testing.
On homeschooling advocacy sites, Georgia and New Hampshire are consistently rated as states with moderate regulation.
Georgia law states:
The instructor shall write an annual progress assessment report in each required subject area for each student. These reports shall be retained for at least three years.
Here is the New Hampshire law:
II. The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the child's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with the child's age and ability. The child shall be deemed to have successfully completed his annual evaluation upon meeting the requirements of any one of the following:
(a) A certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent shall evaluate the child's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the parent or child;
(b) The child shall take any national student achievement test, administered by a person who meets the qualifications established by the provider or publisher of the test. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such tests shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency;
(c) The child shall take a state student assessment test used by the resident district. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such state test shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency; or
(d) The child shall be evaluated using any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the parent and the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal.
III. The parent shall maintain a copy of the evaluation. The results of the evaluation:
(a) May be used to demonstrate the child's academic proficiency in order to participate in public school programs, and co-curricular activities which are defined as school district-sponsored and directed athletics, fine arts, and academic activities. Home educated students shall be subject to the same participation policy and eligibility conditions as apply to public school students.
(b) Shall not be used as a basis for termination of a home education program.
(c) Provides a basis for a constructive relationship between the parent and the evaluator, both working together in the best interest of the child.
It seems New Hampshire requires a lot more than Georgia, so I am surprised both states earn "moderate" ratings.
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