Teachers: Most State Policy Changes Not Yet Implemented

A quick roundup of views and commentary on the #NCTQ report (which FWIW contrasts with the DFER report on many of the same states):

4 Race to Top States Lag in Teacher Evaluations Politics K12: The report's conclusions about Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Hawaii seem especially troubling.

States move quickly to change teacher evaluations: 33 and counting Hechinger Report: But how will these new policies change what happens in classrooms? Will they lead to improved student achievement?  The response on the conference call yesterday was, essentially, we don’t know yet.

Too Much Change Too Fast? EWA: How will the push toward evaluations affect the teachers themselves? Will it result in a measurable improvement in student achievement? 

Sea change in teacher effectiveness policies NCTQ: Just two years ago, only 15 states required annual teacher reviews and 35 states did not, even in the most cursory way, recognize that student achievement was of any use in assessing a teacher's effectiveness in the classroom.  

UFT continues to drag its heels on supporting NYC's new evaluation systems DFER: The union's stalling has real implications, because NYC can't qualify to apply for the full range of award programs without demonstrating labor support for the new evaluation system. 

Policy changes are great, but implementation is the thing that creates changes that could improve outcomes for kids.  Let's these state laws turned into action before we let anyone declare victory.