The document discusses issues with current teacher accountability systems and proposes improvements. It argues that standardized tests alone are not sophisticated enough to accurately measure teacher performance or student learning. Instead, it advocates for systems that provide professional development, emphasize continuous improvement, and gauge teacher competence through multiple measures such as peer reviews. The goal is to develop accountability approaches that build teaching capacity rather than create fear and better reflect how well teachers are preparing students.

1. Teacher Accountability How do they measure up? Your child is assigned to one of the following… The Great Teacher The Average Teacher The Poor Teacher who needs another career How do you know? How will your child fair?

2. Houston WE have a PROBLEM! The current components of teacher accountability systems need to be revised to adequately reflect the result of proper techniques and student improvement. http://www.thefrustratedteacher.com/2010/03/sunday-cartoon-fun-accountability.html

3. Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components “teachers do not have control over all the variables that lead to successful student performance on external tests” “a large scale test is too blunt to determine how well an individual students is learning” www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=7814

4. “Teachers need professional development in order to develop the understanding that leads to commitment. Through teacher commitment the classroom realities change for our students.” Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=7814

5. “We need teacher accountability…the kind that builds capacity not creates fear…accountable for grounding professional practices in best available research…providing students with engaging and relevant lessons…” Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=7814

6. “High resolution accountability …emphasizes information feedback and continuous improvement…takes time, leadership, attention to details of practice and a culture of reflective practice.” Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=7814

7. The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future believes “peer assistance and review systems are successful, gauge teacher competence with more useful measures and emphasize assistance and professional growth rather than punishment.” Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components www2.ed.gov/pubs/PromPractice/chapter7.html

8. “Today teacher accountability has come to mean how well a teacher’s students perform on standardized tests.” “Our standardized tests…are nowhere near sophisticated enough…to be used as a real measure of performance.” Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/teachers/obama-and-jay-matthews-and-teac.html

9. Education historian, Diane Ravitch studies of teacher effectiveness wrote, the scores “reflected something other than what the teachers did…” “Test scores do not make an evaluation system.” Current Issues with Teacher Accountability Components http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/teachers/obama-and-jay-matthews-and-teac.html

10. Research Purpose The goal of this research is to evaluate current teacher accountability systems to highlight their deficiency as well as offer possible components for an efficient system. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2010/08/19/2012668642.gif

11. Significance of Research Trends in preparedness of students for higher-level education or college show that our students are being adequately prepared. Even what is considered to be the standard of determining teacher effectiveness is not seeming to meet the rigor to reflect success on college-entrance exams or in college. If we plan to produce students who can be ultimately contributing citizens, the testing that hold teacher accountable should directly reflect their preparedness and the effectiveness of our teachers.

12. Significance of Research Whether for one of these or some other reason, “accountability” is now a major issue. It’s widely believed that if America doesn’t shape up, scientists and engineers from beyond our borders will soon be eating our technological lunch. Click picture for article Video clip of Joel Klein on Teacher Accountability

13. Conclusion Answers Anyone? http://www.pbs.org/newshour/btp/pdfs/stlouis_accountability_2005.pdf Approaches to ensure quality teachers in classes: Evaluate teacher preparation programs on a continual basis Encourage performance-based evaluation in all states, districts and schools. Institute peer review systems and teacher mentoring programs to encourage new instructional techniques and continued progress

14. Conclusion Answers Anyone? Setting up an adequate teacher evaluation system based upon student performance measures requires at least the following… See article http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/12/28/1228.htm

15. Bibliography Jones, K. (1998, May/June). Teacher Accountability: High Resolution, Not High Stakes. NCTM Dialogues. Retrieved from http://www.nctm.org/resources U.S. Department of Education. (1998, September). Improving Teacher Accountability and Incentives. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/PromPractice/chapter7.html Strauss, V. (2010, March 15). On Obama (and Jay Matthews) and teacher accountability. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com

16. Bibliography Ballard, K. & Bates, A. (2008). Making a Connection between Student Achievement, Teacher Accountability and Quality Classroom Instruction. (The Qualitative Report Vol. 13). Retrieved from http://www.nova.edu/sss/QR/QR13- 4/ballard.pdf Who is Acountable for Children’s Education? (2005). PBS Newshour. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/btp/pdfs/stloui s_accountability_2005.pdf Allen, M. (1999). Student Results and Teacher Accountability. (ECS Policy Brief). Retrieved from Education Commission of the States website: http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/12/28/1228.htm