Sensible Teacher Evaluation

In recent years many legislative initiatives taken up under the rubric of "school improvement" actually have diminished the quality of teaching and learning in the nation's public schools. From the earliest days of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to today's vast overuse and misuse of standardized tests, ideologically driven education mandates have systematically eroded both depth and breadth—real rigor—in the curriculum. Movement is now advancing on teacher evaluation, over-complicating and over-legislating a process that ought to be grounded in solid education principles, rather than political ideology.

Recently Mike Schmoker contributed a Commentary piece to Education Week that gives some perspective to the teacher evaluation issue. During my time in education publishing I had a couple of opportunities to work with Mike's manuscripts. He is a thoughtful contributor to the education conversation. His Commentary, titled "Why Complex Teacher Evaluations Don't Work," is clear and cogent. Please click the title link and read it.