The Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014

Most don’t support rating teachers on student scores, survey find

By Jaime Sarrio

A majority
of Americans don’t support using student test scores to evaluate
teachers, but do believe evaluations should influence whether a teacher
is fired, according to a new survey.



The
46th annual “Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools”
conducted by Gallup and Phi Delta Kappa International, an educators’
organization, found that 61 percent of respondents opposed plans – like one in Georgia – to make student test scores 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation.



Georgia
and several other states are launching new, high-stakes evaluation
systems that influence decisions about hiring, firing, certification and
— for some — pay. Many are tied to a $400 million federal grant called
Race to the Top. Georgia recently said it would ask for another year
before fully launching the controversial evaluation system.



Survey
respondents disagreed with using student scores to rate teachers, but
65 percent said it was “very important” evaluations be used as evidence
in a teacher’s dismissal. A smaller number, 46 percent, felt strongly
about linking evaluations to pay or bonuses.



Results from the study are based on a phone study completed by 1,001 adults across the nation.

Respondents also said they trusted public school teachers and indicated support for more rigorous teacher preparation programs.