Our Teachers Are Not Test Scores!
We, the undersigned, oppose the public release of the Teacher Data Reports (TDRs). While we fully support
meaningful teacher evaluations, the TDRs – which rate teachers based on their classes’ state test score changes
from one year to the next in English Language Arts (ELA) and math – have several problems.
- Experts agree that progress based solely on test scores is a poor way to measure student achievement or
teacher effectiveness. Learning is complex; assessment should be, too.
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The TDRs are full of errors due to inaccurate and unverified data. For example, classes have been listed
to the wrong teachers and non-math teachers have been given math ratings. Teachers on child care leave
have been given ratings even though they weren’t in the classroom. One principal reported errors on
nearly 1⁄4 of her teachers.
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The TDRs are calculated using a flawed model that does not take into account a host of variables that
affect test scores. In fact, a recent analysis demonstrates that the TDRs have an average margin of error
of 34-61 percentage points out of 100.
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Principals report that many of their best teachers have received poor ratings on their TDRs due to the
flawed model. For example, a minute .05 change in math test scores, from 3.97 to 3.92, landed one teacher
in the bottom 6% of the rating scale.
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The DOE has used invalid test data to calculate the TDRs. The State Education Department announced
this summer that the state test scores have been inaccurate for the past several years, yet these inaccurate
test scores are the basis of the TDRs.
Furthermore, we fear the release of the TDRs will harm our children’s education as excellent teachers will resign
rather than face the public humiliation of an inaccurate bad rating. Additionally, there will be even more test
prep in our schools as teachers will be compelled to drive up test scores instead of providing our children with a
quality education.
Please sign this petition to let the world know you oppose public release of the TDRs!
