D.C. Public Schools Revises Controversial Teacher Evaluation System Implemented By Rhee

Teachers in D.C. Public Schools who perform well will see some easing from a controversial evaluation process introduced by former DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee.

The 290 teachers in the school system who earned ratings of "highly effective" for the last two years and who scored a 3.5 average on their first two evaluations this school year can opt out of the final three observations by district officials that take place over the year, The Washington Examiner reports.

DCPS evaluates its teachers and staff on a system it calls IMPACT, which assesses teacher performance according to student achievement, instructional expertise, collaboration and professionalism. Teachers are observed five times a year and receive scores on a scale of 1 to 4, with a score of 1 being "ineffective," and 4 being "highly effective."

D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson already relaxed IMPACT rules in July by allowing some teachers who receive two consecutive "minimally effective" scores to keep their jobs -- those teachers would have been dismissed under IMPACT's original provisions, The Washington Post reported.

IMPACT has been a controversial system since its inception. Advocates tout its process of holding teachers accountable and note the program's incentives for improved teacher performance. Critics have argued that it judges teachers unfairly -- in which student scores on standardized tests could count for as much as half of a teacher's evaluation. Some have argued that the system could drive teachers to cheat to improve scores that contribute to evaluations, annual goals and bonuses.

DCPS and the U.S. Department of Education are investigating system schools regarding questionable scoring patterns and alleged cheating incidents among teachers during Rhee's tenure, between 2008 and 2010.

In July, DCPS fired more than 400 teachers as a result of poor IMPACT scores, while 663 Washington Teachers' Union members received bonuses for earning high scores.

Comments

[vector26436]

10:43 AM on 09/08/2011

This whole article could have been written in one sentence, "The Teacher's Union wins again." Rhee was the best thing to happen in the Washington D.C. school system in ages. The Republicans previously gave the parents a voucher choice, but the Democrats cancelled it after taking over the Congress. Then Ms Rhee came in and set up an evalution system that resulted in the firing of almost 100 incompetent teachers. The Union intervened and the courts awarded the incompetent teachers their jobs, plus full back pay and benefits...Ms. Rhee resigned, the Children lost, and the Union won.

[sidnee]

09:18 PM on 09/08/2011

I'm sick and tired of people acting like teachers don't care about the children. The teachers' unions DO CARE about the kids. I'm also sick and tired of peopel saying that the majority of teachers are incompetent and lazy. For every 1 teacher who is that way there are 150+ who bust their backsides helping kids. Unions DO NOT fire teachers--administration does. There is a process and it has to be followed if the teacher is not temporary--HOWEVER unions cannot hire nor fire anyone. We look out of our people--sure--but we look out for the kids as well. Michelle Rhee wasn't the holy grail for DC schools that you like to make her out to be. She was ambivilent to teachers. Maybe if administration started ASKING teachers what they need to help students succeed instead of blaming us when we don't make policy--things may change. IN the meantime--go visit a school and see what goes on. I assure you that you won't see teachers sitting around eating bonbons and collecting a paycheck.

[charterteacher84]

09:28 PM on 09/10/2011

I agree with you, people get into teaching because they CARE about children. However, some teachers are effective, while others are not. Just because you care about children doesn't make you a good teacher. The teachers who consistently have poor evaluations should find something that they are better equipped to do. Although unions aren't the people firing teachers, they're the group that is preventing ineffective teachers from being fired. Teacher's unions are for teachers, they do not have the best interest of the students in mind, they are interested in guaranteed job security and the best benefits (taxpayer) money can buy. I am a teacher and can attest that teachers are a hardworking group, but as in any other field, there are people who simply don't make the cut. I think Rhee saw that the school system was broken and made the first step to fix it.

[fitzroya]

06:13 AM on 09/08/2011

The observation this story has a tenth or less reading traffic and comment compared with others on the lead page supports the general apathy and nonsupport of education in America. People generally don't care, and when there are problems, they're in somebody else's school. Administrative evaluation of teachers is always subjective and fraught with bias, even when quantified by Likert scale. Student evaluations by grades became meaningless with social promotion that allowed straight-F students to advance grade levels. Much of that is due to cost of increased class sizes and student population, so in reality, such promotion isn't really social; it's economic. There is no meaningful evaluation and accountability for parents. Politicians want parent votes, so show interest by passage of unfunded or underfunded mandates, such as NCLB, designed to correct, fix, and improve in schools. Every implementation dip is followed by panic and new corrections, with new implementation dips so the string produces decline.

[oldfatman]

01:04 AM on 09/08/2011

Standardized test are a very poor way to evaluate a teacher.If parents don't care or are too busy to be involved and prepare their childred for learning it will be extremely difficult to get desirable test results.With class size and the need to keep other students engaged,it will be all but impossible to give the type of one on one attention a child in these circumstances needs.

[sidnee]

09:20 PM on 09/08/2011

I agree. Standardized tests COULD be used to evaluate a teacher ONLY IF you can guarantee a child will do his/her best. Many do--but I've seen several students in my career just fill in cirlces to be the first one done--and never tried to figure out anything. Yet the teacher's entire job can hinge on those students being intrinsicly motivated.

[charterteacher84]

09:31 PM on 09/10/2011

Although standardized tests aren't perfect, they're a step in the right direction. Teachers need to be held accountable for what students are learning throughout the year. Also, test scores make up a small part of the evaluation, there are a variety of other components, so having "bad test scores" doesn't equal being fired.

[Luminous Lightsphere]

04:14 PM on 10/15/2011

No, but without due process,as was insured by the unions until the Republicans began union busting- being over 50 can get you fired.

[sayber]

07:41 PM on 09/07/2011

STOP putting all the blame on teachers!
It ALL starts at home.
Many households are run by single parents. Men and women get married NOT til death do us part....instead, they get married til, something better comes along. Or,they get pregnant on the second date and realize by the fourth date that they can't stand each other!
In ALL of this....it's the kids who suffer. Many parents are too tired to do a lot for their kids, many are too busy looking for their next boyfriend/girlfriend or drug of choice. KIds are basically raising themselves along with the computer, the TV and electronic games.
Young girls get pregnant, so that they will have someone "who loves them" ??!! Not, so they can love the baby! Parents are giving into the ADD and all the other 'disorders' and putting their kids on drugs, so that mom can get the SSI check every month! Kids are begging to be noticed. Looking for attention. Sometimes, the only place they get it, is in school.

Grow up folks and BRING UP YOUR OWN CHILDREN! Allow teachers to TEACH!

[notajesusgigolo]

06:21 PM on 09/07/2011

Sorry, Tomcat, but you must not be aware that there's been a severe shortage of qualified teachers in America for over 30 years. With the many thousands of Baby Boomer age who will be retiring in the next 5 years, the statistics get even worse.
Not only does 29% totally leave the profession within 5 years of starting, but a higher ratio opt out of the major during their junior year when they see how much work they'll be doing for so little pay and benefits.
Even many unemployed workers don't fit the bill because they can't pass the FBI screening that they must pay for themselves - even to merely substitute. I know - I'm a retired adminstrator who was responsible for filling those positions.

[tomcat1974]

06:01 PM on 09/07/2011

abolish the teachers unions....allow for competition

[sidnee]

09:22 PM on 09/08/2011

OH my goodness---since when are children and schools to be treated like a commodity? The answer to everything in this country IS NOT to turn it over to competition. Private industry is beholden to profit margins and shareholders. YOu think they will put the kids first? Fat chance.

[Protocolor]

01:48 AM on 09/10/2011

You are profoundly uninformed.

[zoihunt]

06:00 PM on 09/07/2011

How much do you think you have the right to ask of your teachers? Do you think they should always be excellent in every aspect of their vocation? Why do you think that?
Teachers are just people who go to work every day, just like you. How hard do you try at your job? Do you give 110% every day? Are you absolutely the best you can be? If not, why should teachers be?
Teachers are just workers who get up in the morning and go to work, like you. Sure they make 40, 50, or 60 thousand dollars; they have good jobs. But teachers aren’t trying out for the Olympics, they’re not vying for million dollar contracts with the NFL or NHL, or trying to become billion dollar CEO’s. So why judge them as though they were?
Teachers are just ordinary workers who want to do as good as they can but they’re not going to compete as though there were ultra-rich rewards at stake. If you think that’s not good enough, maybe you should be a teacher, Then you could watch while the crazies condemn your efforts.

[SeniorMoment]

03:53 PM on 09/07/2011

The core problem wih all teacher evalouation systems is rater bias that can lead to down scoring of disfavored teachers due to personality, voice, ethnicity, race, style, etc. that have nothing to do with how effective they are at getting students to learn. It is also true that it takes brand new teachers often as long as five years of mentoring to be quality teachers. They almost all start out making some mistakes whether it be failure of instructional methods or a mistake that leads to lack of discipline. Too harsh an approach will fire most new teachers and leave an absence of continuity of any kind for students.

When a school district develops a system with sufficient raters that has a good track record of inter-rater consistency and no systemic bias, it will be welcomed by most teachers. Some may get nervous anytime observed, but the great teachers will welcome witnesses to their skills.

My wife taught art so well her principal, for his own education, chose to come and observe how she demonstrated each new form of art, and she appreciated that as recognition of work well done. (Her performance ratings were never in question then although her first year overworked under another principal was a great burden which a friendly experienced teacher helped her through outside of classroom hours, or she might never have become a great art teacher.

[wolfnus]

03:33 PM on 09/07/2011

Considering just the hours that children are awake, they are in school only about 25% of the time and with parents or elsewhere the OTHER 75% of their waking hours. Can we expect the teachers and the school systems to do ALL the teaching and monitoring and mentoring? Even during those 25% of the hours kids are in school, a lot of time is devoting to NON-TEACHING activities because of the paperwork requirements and other factors. It is easy to get angry with the teacher if your kid isn't learning the necessary skills, but maybe parents should look in their mirrors first. Not a Teacher And Never Have Been

[omobob]

04:25 PM on 09/07/2011

It is the failure of the educational system in the US. Which is why we are ranked 29th.

[Luminous Lightsphere]

05:04 PM on 09/07/2011

No, it is because the European countries separate the students in high school to those who are on a college track and those who are not. Finland, which the world looks to as an example in excellent education of their citiaenry, has 100% union participation by teachers, and three teachers in every classroom.

[omobob]

03:31 PM on 09/07/2011

The US educational system is one of the worst in any industrialized nation. We rank around 29th. Maybe it would be better to copy the educational systems in the top ten instead.

[wolfnus]

03:46 PM on 09/07/2011

If you check into the top nations for education, countries such as Finland and Japan, you will find that the population is very often homogeneous--the people look alike, have the same appearance. It is fact that folks willl spend more money on education and other "help other people" things if the population is homogeneous. If you are blonde and blue-eyed, you'll be much more likely to want to spend money to help OTHER blonde, blue-eyed folks who look like you, rather than an "outsider." Also, nations with smaller defense budgets do better in education because more money is available for schools.

[omobob]

04:23 PM on 09/07/2011

> “If you check into the top nations for education, countries such as Finland and Japan

And you will find a better system of education. Looking the same is not a reason the US is 29th.
If you think that countries such as Finland and Japan, you will find that the population is very often homogeneou­s--then you havn’t been to Japan or Finland. apperences are decevieving. While they may look alike the Modern History tells a different story. But then you would hav to learn that in school. Good luck with #29.

[charterteacher84]

09:36 PM on 09/10/2011

Great point! The Finns pay 63% of their earnings on taxes and have the highest benefits and money going towards children and the elderly.

[Protocolor]

01:52 AM on 09/10/2011

Hmm... Norway: 100% unionization, high teacher wages, tenure, great benefits...

Sounds good to me!

[gshaw1520]

03:27 PM on 09/07/2011

Any teacher who would consider cheating to look better on an evaluation is a disgrace. How can you teach children integrity if you don't have any yourself?

[wolfnus]

03:52 PM on 09/07/2011

The cheating is wrong, no doubt sbout THAT. But think about this: in a tight job market and with a family to support and few, if any, other jobs available, MIGHT you not consider cheating to keep your job and take care of your family? If a teacher is fired because his/her school is deemed a "failure," that teacher will probably NEVER get another teaching job even if he/she did the best possible job with what was available. Maybe you are absolutely pure and would NEVER cheat, even if it meant your job and the abiloty to take care of your family. But maybe NOT.....

[camnhuff]

09:06 PM on 09/07/2011

You should also ask the parents and children similar questions. Would they want to have a teacher who was unable to get their students to reach standard? If the teacher could not get the students to reach standard would cheating be okay? Would making the students feel as though they are prepared to successfully compete in college and the job market, knowing full well that they are not, be the just thing to do? Most people want the very best teachers for their children.

[Protocolor]

01:56 AM on 09/10/2011

Because when the boss comes by with the stopwatch to count how many holes you drill in the widgets with the drill press every minute, you don't try to put on a burst of speed... yeah, whatever.

[mlp7595]

03:11 PM on 09/07/2011

God forbid any of those ignorant numbskulls be held to any standards like the rest of us are subjected. Some of us appreciate an evaluation but not teachers, they are above the law.

[VANDERGRAAFK]

03:24 PM on 09/07/2011

You must not have liked teachers very much. Imagine if you were subject to an evaluation that placed a priority upon a test which may or may represent learning that is not considered important enough to include in a student's evaluation (grade) and may occur before the end of teaching has occurred. I would be angry that I was being held to a standard beyond my control. What I would respect would be the evaluation of my peers, colleagues who are familiar enough with the teaching matter to know whether the teacher is competent to teach, say, mathematics. I could even appreciate the input of an administrator who understands broader issues such as classroom discipline etc. A committee could easily evaluate me and I would welcome it. Instead, under the current system, I was evaluated by a principal who never observed me teach, knew nothing about mathematics and was determined to destroy my career because I was uppity. Actually, he accused me of insubordination. As I was not even a probationary teacher, but had taught for 11 years on an emergency credential (I completed the credential the same year I was "fired".), there were no protections for me. Oh well. Destroying careers is unfortunately what some administrators specialize in doing.

[omobob]

03:28 PM on 09/07/2011

> Some of us appreciate an evaluation but not teachers, they are above the law.

What law would that be. Clue: its not a law.

[frdafury]

04:55 PM on 09/07/2011

Thankfully, we do NOT have to look at your face in the picture but it is the perfect picture of an EXPLODING HEAD. You know nothing of education...here or in the world but you sure are good at spouting "factoids" and claiming hatred of educators. Here is a little of your own medicine, enjoy.

[DrKatePhD]

02:35 PM on 09/07/2011

Teachers, of course, need to be held accountable. We can't have teachers browsing the internet, talking on the phone, etc. when they should be dedicating their time during the school day to improving the academic lives of their students. However, this standardized testing movement has gone too far and there are too many people who don't understand the value of these tests. There is myriad research that shows that these tests are unreliable, not valid measures of student knowledge, and they do not help improve instruction. Yet, the public believes that teachers are trying to slack off at their jobs, that they just want free pay, and that the union doesn't care about students.

Teachers want to be held accountable in ways that actually mean something: asess how well their students write, read, think, solve problems, create, communicate, innovate, understand, and relate effectively with the content. Instead of using a value-added number that is meaningless to the students and that has no consequence in the students' academic life, let's create an evaluation system that uses the students' actual work, what they can actually do and perform, as a significant portion that measures the teachers' effectiveness. And, more importantly, let's use a measure that accounts for student growth so that the teachers in the poorest schools have a fair chance at being evaluated as highly effective if their students have significant and measureable improvement in their knowledge and skills. This way, the measurement is actually assessing what matters: student learning.

[Dede Eagleburger]

03:33 PM on 09/07/2011

Thank you, Dr Kate, for a very insightful post. Fanned

[frdafury]

04:59 PM on 09/07/2011

Sounds perfect in a perfect world. How do you account for the number of students through no fault of their own cannot learn because of issues of poverty, abuse, parental insensitivity, etc.? I am not attacking the practical parts of what you are saying but I still see room for improvement since there is so much that is not under control of teachers or schools. Besides, not all schools are bad since so many do well and do learn...both because and in spite of their situations...often in the same schools.

[pfreddie88]

02:22 PM on 09/07/2011

What I don't think people understnad is that the greatest factor affecting student performance today is ATTENDANCE!! Most of the kids I taught were missing an average of one day a week, and parents were excusing their children's absences. After a while, the admin would not let parents do that anymore, then kids reck up unexcused absences with their parent's blessing. The problem was to great for truancy officials to handle, and parents would just throw their hands up and state that they could not force their (high school aged) children to attend. I personally know people who allow their kids to miss several days a month, even at the elementary level. How can you judge a teacher on the performance of a student that is not attending school every day? I challenge anyone to look at general attendance records of any high school or middle school to see the trends. Where does parental responsibility come in? Well, making sure that behinds are in chairs every day would be a good start.

[sidnee]

09:27 PM on 09/08/2011

Thank you---I always am telling parents "I can't teach them and they can't learn if they aren't in class."

[captchess]

02:22 PM on 09/07/2011

Teaching school is one of the few jobs which normally do not require the teachers to perform at any given level. Most jobs have regular performance evaluations and goals are set for the next evaluation. There is no reason that teachers can't be subject to those rules too and their performance, and thus our kids performance, just might go up.

[VANDERGRAAFK]

03:31 PM on 09/07/2011

Student performance might just go up if a) we didn't hold onto this nonsense that all students should go to college; b) parents cared enough about their offspring that they provided a space for students to work at home and saw to it that students attended school daily and did their work daily; c) the school day were lengthened for students who are behind academically; and d) we could deal with the myriad socio-economic issues that distract our students from focusing on their studies.

[sidnee]

09:28 PM on 09/08/2011

Most of these are out of control of schools. There's no law that says a parent must parent and put thei needs of their children at heart. The myriad of socio-economic issues ---they have been going on for a long time--and very few seem interested in changing the status quo. They are all very valid reasons--but the path of least resistence is to blame the "lazy, greedy teachers."