New leaders of New York’s board of regents’ last week launched an inquiry into the validity of the state testing system and its links to teacher evaluations, citing the need to rebuild public trust following a second annual round of massive exam boycotts across the state.
Regent Judith Johnson said the foremost question revolves around whether there is credible research evidence that test scores of students are effective in helping evaluate teachers’ classroom performance.
New Chancellor Betty Rosa announced Johnson’s appointment in her first official act as the panel’s leader. The inquiry also comes after the regents, amid controversy and public outcry, in December passed a four-year moratorium that prevents test scores from being used punitively against students or in teacher job ratings.
