Something smells fishy in New York, and it’s not coming from the Hudson. On the United Federation of Teachers’ blog this morning Leo Casey of the United Federation of Teachers came down hard on New York’s pilot project that would use standardized test scores to evaluate teacher performances.
The DoE has no contractual or legal authority to use test score data in the evaluation of teachers, and the UFT will oppose it with all the means at our disposal. This is a line in the sand for the UFT.
NYC Educator, however, contends that the UFT itself virtually paved the way for the program and questions the allegiance of UFT president Randi Weingarten:
When Ms. Weingarten and the UFT leadership agreed to merit pay for teachers based upon standardized test scores earlier this school year, they opened the door to all kinds of funky other things related to test scores - including grading teachers based upon scores whether the tests were meant for that purpose or not… And despite her ‘grave reservations’ to the contrary about the newest DOE horror show - measuring teachers in secret by how much their students improve on test scores, you can bet Ms. Weingarten is either in favor of the program or doesn't care enough to stop it.
This could get ugly.