Proof of required literacy levels for teachers in reading, writing, and math is absolutely essential, not an unreasonable expectation. The Free Press also questioned the quality of Vermont's veteran teachers. Not one state received an A. Vermont was joined in the highest tier by only seven other states. While there is room for improvement, Vermont's teachers rank at the top. The most suitable and effective instrument already is available -performance evaluation.
Principals can regularly see individual teachers ply their craft.
They can read their written communications to parents. They can observe their demeanor with students and their degree of collegiality and cooperation with other professionals. They can note levels of dedication, work habits, and personal and collective responsibility. No test can yield such rich evaluation evidence over time. Frequent, rigorous, and fair evaluation is how our teachers and paraeducators prove their competence to the community.