The new system seems to be running smoothly, though teacher anxiety has caused officials to turn half of the surprise visits that evaluators now pay to classrooms into scheduled visits. According to an article in USA Today, Ohio has become the first state to require all new teachers to pass a classroom-based standardized test in order to get their professional licenses. Starting in 2002, new teachers must pass the Praxis III test, which involves in-class evaluations, interviews and analysis of lesson plans. Several other states have piloted the Praxis III program, which is designed by Educational Testing Service, but none have gone as far as Ohio has in making it a requirement. An article in the Christian Science Monitor takes a look at the implementation of the new performance pay system in Cincinnati.
People are afraid to be evaluated.
Its almost like the end of the Soviet Union. Its a fundamental change in the way teachers perceive their role and how they are paid, said one middle school teacher. While we dont think the Cincinnati plan is perfect, since it is based mostly on judgments about a teachers knowledge and skills, and only partly on classroom effectiveness as measured by student achievement, we welcome any effort to link teacher pay to results. There is growing interest in the role that principals can play in producing gains in student achievement. A report by the National Staff Development Council released this week agrees.