This month we look at the following highly controversial topic «What should a holistic approach to learning look like and how do we shift the focus
from the accountability measures in existence now to one that's relevant for all students in a changing world?»
By removing science
from accountability measures and promoting a «STEM» initiative that focuses on technology, Pennsylvania's students are likely to see decreased resources devoted to the development of scientific literacy and the practices of science and engineering.
Michael Soskil: We need a shift in focus
from accountability measures based on standardized test scores toward metrics that take into account universal access to quality teachers and learning environments, robust curricula that include the arts, as well as student engagement and well - being.
As part of C.M. Rubin's Top Global Teacher Bloggers, this is my response to this month's question: What should a holistic approach to learning look like and how do we shift the focus
from the accountability measures in existence now to ones that are relevant for all students in a changing world?
I use national data to show how many students would be excluded
from accountability measures at different n - sizes and how other combining data across grade levels or years within a school can include more students in the accountability process.
Has there been any backlash or unintended consequences
from accountability measures or policies?
Not exact matches
Lastly, the team examined the connection between character and swearing on a larger, cultural level by comparing the 2012 Integrity Analyses of 48 U.S. states
from the Center for Public Integrity, which
measured the level of transparency and
accountability of local governments, to how frequently residents of that state swore in their Facebook posts.
Church organizations, of course, also offer doctrinal
accountability and a degree of security that can be absent
from self - made ministries that depend on book sales, speaking gigs, and other
measures of popularity.
The Chicago Teachers Union has never gotten over its resentment for Duncan, who served as Chicago superintendent of schools
from 2001 to 2009 and implemented many of the same
accountability measures that Bush and Obama embraced.
In 2002 the state legislature passed Act 88, shifting authorization of cybercharters
from local districts to the state department of education and setting more rigorous requirements and
accountability measures.
But lately,
accountability has been under fire
from many critics, including Common Core opponents and those calling for more multifaceted
measures of teacher and school performance.
On top of the 60 per cent pass rate for GCSEs, Morgan explained the new «Progress 8»
accountability measure for secondary school's, which is designed to show a child's progress
from primary to secondary education.
We triangulate the data
from reading inventories, state
accountability measures, and national college readiness exams.
From 2009 - 2012, schools retested students who initially failed the exams, and then only the higher of the original and retest scores was used in the
accountability measure.
In his new book, Professor Dan Koretz looks at how test - based
accountability has become an end in itself in American education, unmoored
from clear thinking on what should be
measured in school, harming students and corrupting the ideals of teaching.
CAMBRIDGE, MA — An analysis of a new report by a committee of the National Research Council (NRC), the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that average student gains
from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) test - based
accountability measures would yield, over the next 80 years, a national economic benefit of approximately $ 14 trillion.
Yet ESSA provides a reason to be guardedly optimistic: Its enactment stemmed in some
measure from a growing dissatisfaction with simple test - based
accountability.
Results
from annual standardized tests can be useful for
accountability purposes, but student progress must be
measured on a far more frequent basis if the data are being used to inform instruction and improve achievement.
Pushed by No Child Left Behind's (NCLB)
accountability measures and the college - for - all movement, educators nationwide have raised expectations for children
from immigrant families.
However, far
from a «Wild West» approach to charter oversight, his organization instead advocated for, and got, important
accountability measures included in the law: mandatory closure for persistently low - performing charter schools, A — F grading of schools (both charter and public), and an end to so - called «authorizer shopping,» in which failing schools move to a new authorizer after their existing one withdraws its support.
The exclusion of creative subjects
from the EBacc remit; subject silos; out - dated subject orthodoxies; teacher shortages and financial and academic pressures on schools weighed down by
accountability measures are creating a perfect storm in which students will be those affected in the short term and society in the long term.
Beginning in 2002, the
accountability system included
measures of student progress
from one year to the next, a feature not incorporated into NCLB.
While this means that some of the students, whose test scores are included in the school's performance
measure, may have only been in that school for a relatively short time, it avoids problems associated with excluding the high - mobility students - typically the lowest - performing students -
from the district's overall
accountability measure.
Before 1999, special - education students were excluded
from state
accountability measures, but since then special - education students who are receiving instruction on grade level are also included.
However, with regard to adequate yearly progress, state officials do not expect a great deal of flexibility
from federal officials and have conceded that their current
accountability measure, the Academic Performance Index, is not likely to meet federal regulations.
Current time - and age - based
accountability measures have a stronghold on schools, even those trying to break away
from the factory model of education.
From a policy standpoint, the adoption of SEL standards, funding for teacher professional development, and the incorporation of school climate into
measures of
accountability are all potential levers (among many) to support empowerment efforts.
If they do, they'll face initial opposition
from President Obama, who has defended annual testing as an essential
accountability measure.
Preserve a role for student achievement in teacher evaluation systems In light of political pushback, some states and districts are moving to eliminate student achievement
measures from teacher
accountability systems, but that is a mistake.
So - called
accountability measures in Louisiana, including the statewide testing mandate, ironically enough may have discouraged high - quality providers
from entering the market, thereby narrowing the options available to parents of students using the scholarships.
I implore states that are still finalizing their ESSA
accountability systems to learn
from the past and choose better
measures of school performance.
Schools don't want to shy away
from accountability, but the
measures must be fair for all learners.
Despite this newfound flexibility, of the seventeen states with draft ESSA
accountability plans, the Fordham Institute finds only six have moved away
from percent proficient as their main
measure of academic achievement.
This study draws together results
from multiple data sources to identify how the new
accountability systems developed in response to NCLB have influenced student achievement, school - district finances, and
measures of school and teacher practices.
Contemporary
accountability policies have created the added expectation that districts will differentiate support to schools on the basis of achievement results
from state testing programs and other
accountability measures, with particular attention to be given to schools where large numbers of students are not meeting standards of proficiency.
To allow HISD to continue operating the 10 schools, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath must issue a reprieve
from state
accountability measures called for in a 2015 law.
Rather than detaching
from or merely arguing against state
accountability policies, Superintendent Wauters met with state leaders to talk about the importance of having state assessments and
accountability measures aligned with the new state focus.
In Florida, charter schools do have to adhere to state
accountability measures — such as having all their students take the FCAT and employing state - certified teachers — but are exempt
from a majority of the state's school laws.
The government's plans to change the way schools are
measured from 2018 appear to conflict with its own rules on
accountability reform.
Raymond came to Sacramento
from Charlotte - Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina, a high - achieving district, where he was chief
accountability officer in charge of data, innovation, school performance reviews and
measures of student achievement.
With a clear focus on homework
from OFSTED: «Teachers use well - judged teaching strategies, including setting appropriate homework that, together with clearly directed and timely support and intervention, match pupils» needs accurately» we have to guard against schools driving homework to «death» whereby teachers feel they have to set homework for the sake of it to satisfy
accountability measures and / or internal monitoring systems.
In this webinar, presenters explored the challenges and opportunities of
accountability for alternative education, along with promising practices
from states and districts who have developed
accountability measures and systems that are inclusive of all students in all types of educational settings.
For Houston to avoid those sanctions, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath would need to issue a reprieve
from state
accountability measures called for in a 2015 law.
This quote
from Mike Cladingbowl (National Director for Inspection Reform) will set the context and lay the foundations for change, bearing in mind that we are still subject to
accountability measures:
An unacceptable workload driven by
accountability measures that treat all teachers as incompetent, in addition to low graduate pay, are not only driving many out of the profession but are also deterring new graduates
from entering teaching.
With this new task force, the State Board will conduct community roundtables and focus groups to gather input on the remaining ESSA
accountability plan
measures, pilot studies, and school report cards
from essential District education stakeholders.
Armed with the knowledge that quality teaching matters most for student learning, policymakers
from state to state are racing to adopt new educational
accountability measures that seek, among other things, to evaluate teacher effectiveness with more rigorous, evidence - based instruments.
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Accountability Measures In The Special Needs Bill March 3, 2015 by Grant Callen and Brett Kittredge Senate Bill 2695, The Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act, creates a pilot program to give parents the option of withdrawing their child
from a public school and receiving an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) with $ 6,500 to help pay for educational expenses outside the traditional public school.
We need to transform education into a true profession with standards for performance, metrics for
measuring performance, and
accountability that celebrates high performance and jettisons low performing teachers and administrators
from the system.
The worst fear of those of us who opposed the
measure — that Question 2 would dismantle public education, district by district, and leave charter schools free
from accountability to the communities in which they reside — will not come to pass.