By: Sharon Luna
Until recently, most of Texas has avoided using student test data in the evaluation of teacher performance. This session, two Texas Legislators are aiming to change that. Texas lawmakers are preparing to consider House Bill 2977 by Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, and Senate Bill 1403, proposed by Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston. The two bills recommend using test scores for between 20-50% of the evaluation process for Texas teachers. Specifics percentages would be left up to the Texas Education Agency.
Connecting the data from test scores to teacher evaluations has long been a topic of controversy in Texas. It has met strong opposition from various teacher organizations including the American Federation of Teachers, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, the Association of Texas Professional Educators and the Texas State Teachers Association. Some school districts, however, are in disagreement with those organizations and have decided to embrace the concept. A few years ago, Houston ISD and Dallas ISD both voluntarily began using test data as part of their self-developed teacher evaluation system. Beginning this school year, the Somerset ISD is also revamping the way it evaluates and pays teachers, basing 50% on how students progress in standardized tests.
Value-added analysis, as it has been termed in other parts of the nation, is not a new concept. The Los Angeles Times has been deeply involved in reporting on the matter since 2010. Proponents argue that it provides teachers with valuable information necessary to improve their performance. Opponents argue that it would take away local control and could potentially discourage teachers.
“They’re going to, in not too much time, create a horrendous teacher shortage in this state and probably the country,” said Houston Federation of Teachers President Gayle Fallon. “They’re very much depressing the workforce.”
At a committee meeting on April 2, 2013, former US Education Secretary, Rod Paige showed his support for SB1403. He testified that some Texas teachers only get one evaluation every five years, and about 95 percent are considered “proficient.” Those numbers do not meet the criteria of the Obama administration’s “Race to the Top” initiative which requires more thorough and frequent teacher evaluations for districts and states. The two bills would require annual evaluations of teachers, although Texas is not anticipated to join the Obama initiative.
“I would really hope there is a way to find that you could support the bill,” Patrick told the panel. “We value teachers. We want to end this idea that this Legislature is anti-teacher.”
If either bill is passed, it would be up to the TEA and Commissioner of Education Michael Williams, to design the new evaluation rubic. The current Professional Development and Assessment System which ranks instructors across eight “domains” on a four-point scale would be replaced. A new age for data in Texas education would emerge and new and on-going debates will continue.
The Delos Dose 