TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A proposal from Gov. Sam Brownback to post teacher evaluations on school district websites has been trimmed from a House education bill.
The Topeka Capital Journal reported that Republican House Education Committee Chairman Clay Aurand decided to take the action after a hearing Thursday.
Under the proposal, the formula for the rankings would be based 50 percent on student achievement growth, 40 percent on input from supervisors, peers, parents and students and 10 percent on the teachers' contributions to the profession. The State Board of Education would define the exact criteria.
Teachers rated ineffective two years in a row would not be allowed to teach and schools could fire them if professional development opportunities had been provided. The proposal would also offer $5,000 bonuses for some highly rated teachers.
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Original Story, January 26 by Melody Pettit
As North High School hosts a wrestling meet, teacher Brent Lewis volunteers to make hotdogs for the concessions. Right now, his evaluation on how he teaches is kept between him and the district. But a new proposal by Governor Sam Brownback wants to make those evaluations public.
“It seems like it would define my career by my worst year if that was public knowledge,” Lewis said.
The plan says the evaluation would rate all educators as highly effective, effective, progressing or ineffective. Those results would be posted on a website for parents and the public to see. Any teacher that receives ‘ineffective’ two years in a row could be fired.
The President of the United Teachers of Wichita, Larry Landwehr says so many factors go into an evaluation, posting it online wouldn't be fair.
“A lot of people come up with great ideas, but they never have to do the great ideas they just have to sit back and watch the havoc they caused,” said Landwehr.
The Governor's office says the plan rewards the best teachers and puts pressure on teachers with bad results to inspire teachers to work harder but Lewis says it would be enough for him to quit his job.
“It could make every teacher look like a failure at some point. I think it's defeating the purpose if we want to create an environment where we value teachers. I don't know anyone who would want to go into this profession with that kind of pressure,” said Lewis.
While the current way Wichita teachers are evaluated is under review, union officials say the Governor’s proposal isn't the answer.
“There are a lot of unknowns right now. I hope the legislatures ask the right people to fill in the gaps, educators not people who vote and don't know what's going on,” Landwehr said.
