Update: Published Ratings Most Recent Reform Mis-Step

Much as I've criticized media outlets for pursuing and then publishing the NYC value-added scores, it's worth noting three larger, broader aspects to the unfortunate event:  (1) The media outlets were encouraged (some would say manipulated) into violating the privacy agreement by soon-to-be-former NYC chancellor Joel Klein; (2) New York City's political and school reform communities were at the time going through a particularly baroque (or is it rococo?) period during which Mayor Bloomberg appointed the ridiculously under-prepared Cathie Black to be Klein's replacement; and (3) Pushing for the release of the teacher ratings was just one of several short-sighted decisions made in recent months and years in New York and elsewhere.  Other obvious examples include pushing to end LIFO during a massive recession and pushing to createe more charters without addressing quality and ELL/SPED services issues.

More to read: Bad Teachers, or Bad Ratings? New Yorker, State Eyes Shielding Teachers WSJ, Mulgrew Says Mayor's Education Legacy Is 'in Shambles' NYT, The Test-Based Evaluation Genie Can't Be Stuffed Back In The Bottle Education Sector.