Account 500130-92000

Bruce Baker points out the legal challenges ahead for all we districts now stuck evaluating teachers on Student Growth Percentiles:

...it’s much, much easier to explain in court that SGPs make no attempt whatsoever to estimate that portion of student growth that is under the control of, therefore attributable to, the teacher (see here for more explanation of this).  As such, it is, on its face, inappropriate to dismiss the teacher on the basis of a low classroom (or teacher) aggregate student growth metric like SGP. Note also that even if integrated into a “multiple measures” evaluation model, if the SGP data becomes the tipping point or significant basis for such decisions, the entire system becomes vulnerable to challenge.

 Can I suggest a close look at the legal fees line item for FY13 and going forward?