How much should test scores count in rating teachers?

A hearing today in the House Education Committee will debate a critical question — how much should test scores determine the effectiveness of a teacher?

While teacher groups are pushing hard to lower the weight of test scores — now set at half of a teacher's rating — there is not unanimity around this issue. Behind the scenes, the governor is apparently fighting efforts to diminish the influence of test scores, taking aim at Senate Bill 364, for which the House will take testimony today.

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators emailed an alert to its members Tuesday, warning that Nathan Deal wants to preserve the emphasis of standardized testing in educator evaluation.

In an essay today, an acclaimed teacher in the Oconee County school system defends the use of test scores in evaluations, saying, “While none of us enjoys the standardized tests that have been designed to measure student progress, it is hard to argue they do not provide an objective assessment as to where each student lies on the education continuum. And it is also hard to argue that teachers like me do not play a role in that outcome.”

To read more from the teacher, go to the AJC Get Schooled blog on MyAJC.com.

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