In Score to Soar, we discuss four types of
teachers based on their performance levels and the support they may need:
Not exact matches
Westerberg: Time should be provided for
teachers to get together at the course or department
level on a regular
basis to identify big - picture course learning goals, rubrics, or scoring guides that delineate expected student
performance standards; that is, what good work looks like for each goal, and common assessment items or tasks that evaluate student
performance vis — vis key elements of each rubric.
Such pay innovations should also boost student achievement and, because they are
based on performance, strengthen the argument for dramatically raising
teacher salaries — at least for those with the highest
levels of professional expertise.
In almost every school district in the country,
teachers are currently paid
based solely
on their years of experience and degree
level, despite a consensus in the scientific community that these two factors bear little relationship to their success in improving student
performance.
In his letter, Duncan expressed his disappointment in the failure of Washington state's legislature to heed his instruction «to put in place
teacher and principal evaluation and support systems that take into account information
on student learning growth
based on high - quality college - and career - ready (CCR) state assessments as a significant factor in determining
teacher and principal
performance levels.»
Fairly pinpointing all
teachers»
performance levels based on student test scores has proven difficult.
One of the commitments that Washington — and every State that received ESEA flexibility — made was to put in place
teacher and principal evaluation and support systems that take into account information
on student learning growth
based on high - quality college - and career - ready (CCR) State assessments as a significant factor in determining
teacher and principal
performance levels, along with other measures of professional practice such as classroom observations.
Differentiated hiring plans relate to a new system for professional growth in which
teachers are promoted
based on performance over time rather than simply years of service, number of graduate
level credits earned, etc..
As part of the Present
Levels section of the IEP, her special education
teacher writes, «A review of Maria's
performance on grade -
level curriculum -
based measures for reading indicates that she needs to improve her reading accuracy and rate.
·
Teacher compensation should be restructured to provide more incentives tied to
performance, first by significantly reducing the number of steps
on the salary scale, and then by phasing in a
performance based system as the value - added assessment model evolves to the individual classroom
level.
All progression, including at the upper pay
levels, is
based solely
on performance, so
teachers move up the main pay - scale
based on excellent teaching.
Teachers ensure that students achieve mastery by using a wide range of instructional strategies, assistive technology, and other accommodations
based on a student's individual learning characteristics and present
levels of
performance.
Informed by the Memphis strategy, Tennessee will work with and provide support for its LEAs to create clear, differentiated career paths for
teachers and principals,
based on their
performance levels using the new evaluation system.
Rooted in just a single measure for evaluating
teacher performance, today's evaluation system is
based on a checklist of subjective, surface
level details such as references to clothing, administrative tasks and bulletin boards.
These
teachers were evaluated
on their «
performance» using almost exclusively (except for the 5 % school -
level value - added indicator) the same subjective measures integral to many traditional evaluation systems as well as student achievement / growth
on teacher - developed and administrator - approved classroom -
based tests, instead.
Related, and
on this point we agree, «
teacher pay incentives is one area that we know a good deal about,
based on analysis of actual policy variation, and the results are not terribly promising... experiments generally show
performance bonuses, a particular form of pay for
performance, have no significant student achievement effects, whether the bonus is rewarded at the individual
teacher level» (p. 89).
Policy Points also reveals that 38 states use at least four rating
levels to differentiate
teacher performance, and just over a dozen states
base 50 percent or more of a
teacher's evaluation
on student learning data.
The traditional system, whereby
teachers are paid
based solely
on their years of experience and
level of education, has caused many critics to claim that it does not promote good teaching, or is not as fair as other systems that pay
based on performance, ability in certain skills, or willingness to teach in areas of high need.
I am not sure how such as culture shift will be possible when the law promotes
performance -
based compensation for
teachers and school leaders that «differentiates
levels of compensation
based in part
on measurable increases in student academic achievement.»
As evidenced by the U.S. Department of Education's recent move to allow states flexibility in using growth models to calculate average yearly progress, there is a growing consensus that indicators of
teacher effectiveness should be
based on student growth rather than
on predetermined
levels of
performance.
ASCD's newest issue of Policy Points (PDF) also reveals that 38 states use at least four rating
levels to differentiate
teacher performance, and just over a dozen states
base 50 percent or more of a
teacher's evaluation
on student learning data.
Observed and assessed student
performance and kept thorough records of progress.Implemented a variety of teaching methods such as lectures, discussions and demonstrations.Established clear objectives for all lessons, units and projects.Encouraged students to persevere with challenging tasks.Set and communicated ground rules for the classroom
based on respect and personal responsibility.Identified early signs of emotional, developmental and health problems in students and followed up with the
teacher.Tutored children individually and in small groups to help them with difficult subjects.Taught after - school and summer enrichment programs.Established positive relationships with students, parents, fellow
teachers and school administrators.Mentored and counseled students with adjustment and academic problems.Delegated tasks to
teacher assistants and volunteers.Took appropriate disciplinary measures when students misbehaved.Improved students» reading
levels through guided reading groups and whole group instruction.Used children's literature to teach and reinforce reading, writing, grammar and phonics.Enhanced reading skills through the use of children's literature, reader's theater and story time.Differentiated instruction according to student ability and skill level.Taught students to exercise problem solving methodology and techniques during tests.Taught students in various stages of cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional development.Encouraged students to explore issues in their lives and in the world around them.Employed a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction textual materials to encourage students to read independently.