Any sense of where we might find more specifics. Like what is on this list of what might be used other than state-wide tests (since 75% of teachers are not in tested subjects right now)?

The article mentioned benchmarks, but those types of unit test were not designed to measure growth. For example, a first quarter math benchmark might cover data analysis and computation while the second quarter one might cover geometry and measurement.

You can't compare the first to the second to show growth
unless the same/a similar benchmark is used as a pre-test and post-test, but I can't imagine doing this for every unit and reporting the results. And what if there is growth on one benchmark and not another, for example a 3rd grade teacher whose students grow in reading, but not as much in math?

I am glad there are two years of pilot - we need to move forward carefully. The devil is going to be in the details.

This feels very 11th hour to me in a way that makes me feel a little uncomfortable as a teacher whose livelihood will soon be linked to my evaluation. What counts and what doesn't count? Is it progress based or is there a benchmark all of my students will be expected to meet? If so, what baseline will it be measured against? Will the evaluation take into account the "soft" things I do as a teacher (conferencing, integrating the arts, developing social competencies, managing and supporting crisis situations, etc.)? Is this the stick at the end of the carrot of the new contract?

I feel like there is no really good way to negotiate evaluation of teachers that doesn't involve mounds of accountability paperwork (extra assessments, portfolios, justifications) and won't leave the heavy lifting on the desk of the teacher herself. All of this becomes a distraction and a disincentive for choosing a career that already comes with a fair amount of sacrifice to do well.

I'm not sure this news will really change how I teach in the long run. I'm not going to go whole hog test prep or find a way to "jig" my benchmark scores. It just makes me tired.

The measurements need to be based on the new Common Core Standards in terms of informational text literacy (or math). The students fall into a ranges based on various skills. How many students improved and by how much?

The first problem is that we've not made nearly the right amount of progress in designing new subject, classroom specific (and realistic) curriculum standards for each academic (or arts, performance based) subject area. We can't expect to develop the right assessments (combining objective and project based criteria) until we sort out the standards issues.

The next problem is that we must take into account many other problems within the administration of a performance based system: professional development, cooperative teaming, and the effectiveness of the "networks" (which are shifting now in scope to subsume the new lead teachers). Different schools have different problems, opportunities, and needs. We've got serious problems in certain schools with overall culture and effectiveness of the total program.

What scares most teachers is that there are (a) many things beyond their influence or control and (b) that effective educators which are stuck in broken schools could be blamed in reverse for the actions of others.

We also need to get serious about college, or career as really viable options. There need to be more options that interface with an increasingly shifting economy. More private partnerships and incentives for business to get more involved. In an increasingly specialized labor market, not everyone will be engineers.

As was said today, the "devil is in the details."

I continue to teach because I love being with my students, and I will not change my style because I am a highly effective instructor. The day I'm forced to teach to any test is the day I leave the classroom. You're right, Sara. It just makes me tired.

Why as Educated professionals are we going to allow this to happen? It is time all teachers come together and begin to tell others that aren't in the classroom what is going on! If our pay is going to be tied to student performance we need:
Effective Leadership
Small class size
Supplies
Homework Help programs
Parent acccountability
We can't do everything. It is time to make our voices heard.

During the next two pilot years, what impact will that have on teacher evaluations. Mainly, will teachers lose their job over yet to be decided upon details about yet to be created student assessment tools?