School board: Don't use TNReady for teacher evals this year
Nashville’s school board has joined Knox County Schools’ call to give teachers a reprieve in using test scores for teacher evaluations this school year.
The unanimous vote by the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board on the resolution urges the Tennessee General Assembly and Board of Education to provide a waiver this year in using TNReady for teacher evaluations or allow districts to use only observation data for teacher evaluations.
“This is important and desperately needed,” said Amy Frogge, school board member. “The resolution is a no-brainer.”
Since 2011, teachers have been evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with half the score based on classroom observations and the other half based on a student’s academic growth over one year.
This year the state switched to the new online TNReady test, which has caused plenty of anxiety among educators statewide. To go with the change, the state cut the academic growth scores to 10 percent of a teacher’s evaluation, unless the teacher benefits from the score.
Nashville schools board turns eye toward testing issues
But the change has still caused plenty of worry among educators and was evident at Nashville board meetings in the past month. It prompted Vice Chair Anna Shepherd to pitch the resolution.
School board member Jill Speering said using TNReady scores this year is inappropriate.
“This is a message to teachers that we support them,” Speering said.
The call to offer an exemption this year has caught the attention of a coalition of groups, including the Tennessee Education Association and Williamson Strong of Williamson County.
It also has caught the attention of lawmakers. Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, has filed a bill asking for a two-year exemption of TNReady student growth scores on teacher evaluations.
Reach Jason Gonzales at 615-259-8047 and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.