State teachers union OK with using test scores for evaluations

In dropping their opposition to student test scores being used in teachers' performance evaluations, Nevada's teachers unions appear to be essentially adopting a compromise by the Obama administration.

While it earlier emphasized that student achievement data need to be linked with teacher performance evaluations, the Obama administration has since softened its tone after months of taking policy input from the public.

Student performance data, such as test scores, now should be considered along with as other performance measures, such as observation-based assessments and a teacher's demonstration of leadership, according to a new policy announcement.

The U.S. Department of Education published its standards for teacher evaluations on Nov. 12 as part of the application criteria for the Race To the Top Funds, a $4 billion pool of competitive grants intended to spur educational reform at the local level.

To become eligible, Nevada would have to amend a state law not allowing student performance data to be used in teacher evaluations. The first round of grant applications is due Jan. 19.

Coincidentally, political observers expect a special session of the Nevada Legislature might be necessary in January to deal with the state's financial crisis. Gov. Jim Gibbons has said the Legislature could fix its education law at the same time.

Ruben Murillo, the president of the local teachers union, the Clark County Education Association, said the state's teacher union, the Nevada State Education Association, has dropped its opposition out of pragmatism.

"We want to be a part of the conversation (about changing the state law)," Murillo said. "Being a realist leads you to that position."

Momentum appears to be on the side of the changing the state law since state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, has already proposed it as part of his education reform legislation.

The Nevada Association of School Boards, which represent the state's 17 school boards, passed a resolution this month saying it would not oppose a change in the state law, according to Carolyn Edwards, a Clark County School Board member who also serves a director for the NASB.

Lynne Warne, the president of the Nevada State Education Association, was not available for comment Friday because of the holiday weekend, but Murillo said the NSEA changed its stance after consultation with local unions.

The legislation probably would allow local school districts to negotiate with their teachers unions on the right to use student performance data in teacher evaluations, Murillo said.

Murillo said he is hoping that state legislative leaders will adopt the Obama administration's guidelines, that student performance data should be one of many measures for evaluating a teacher.

It is still an open question on what kind of performance data would be used in the evaluations.

This is a main criticism of those opposing the use of student performance data -- that it's impossible to settle on an acceptable standard. Every region is different in how it teaches and evaluates children. Test scores can be easily manipulated to make teachers look good or bad.

Teacher Ron Taylor is a longtime critic of the Clark County Education Association, which he said never had any "real clout."

The embrace of student performance data for evaluating teaches is a misguided attempted by reformers who think they can "reinvent the wheel of education," Taylor said.

Instead of improving test scores, reformers should address the problem of truancy and school dropouts.

"If you want to educate kids, put them in the seat," Taylor said. "It's really that simple."

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.