In hours after releasing teacher evaluations, Florida pulls them from website. Admits they are wrong

[madfloridian]

Way to go there, Florida Department of Education. Just one more thing that makes our state unique. You post erroneous evaluations of teachers whose jobs will depend on them, then you say oops, sorry.

State botches release of new data on teacher evaluations

Florida's Department of Education on Wednesday rolled out the results of a sweeping new teacher evaluation system that is designed to be a more accurate, helpful and data-driven measure of how well teachers actually get students to learn.

And then, within hours of releasing the data, the department pulled the numbers off its website and sheepishly admitted much of it was wrong.

..."The new evaluation system has been stressful for teachers. Even though it appears that the vast majority have been rated as "effective" or "highly effective," many have been downgraded. Critics of the new system said the snafu did not surprise them.

"Garbage in, garbage out," said Bob Schaeffer, education director for Fair Test, which opposes excessive testing. "The teacher evaluation system is ideologically driven and not ready for prime time . . . When you rush to put a shoddy system in place, you get ludicrous results."

Perhaps Florida's DOE would like to share that apology with Kelly Moore and with Teacher of the Year Kim Cook

I am sure that would make them feel so much better.

[madfloridian]

1. They were planning to "finalize" it later? Post it now, fix it later?

Really. From the link above:

Asked how an error like this could occur in such a high-profile project, Sucher pointed out that it is a brand-new system, with preliminary data that is scheduled to be finalized later. Also, individual school districts had some latitude in creating their own evaluation systems, so there are differences from county to county.

[ReRe]

2. The whole thing is a crock!

K&R

Ideological ignoramuses. I had to stop reading the article. How sickening. Sickening.

I'll tell you what it is: It's dumb-ass business men/women with no idea WTF they're doing. Either that or they sent the data to India or Timbuktu with little instructions and that's what they got back. A great big effing mess. They didn't even proof anything...just started shipping the mess out and held their breath to see if it would fly. And no sooner than they started shipping it out, it was probably coming straight back to them with "This is a pile of shit" as the cover letter. This is an example of "new is not better." Ha! I bet the school administrators were busting a gut laughing at this, after they calmed down from their first reaction. I think thr Fla Dept of Ed. needs an old-fashioned spanking, like back in the old days.

[madfloridian]

3. Teachers are at the mercy of those who don't know what they are doing.

It's heartbreaking.

[Luminous Animal]

4. It's time for them to walk off the job...

How strong is the union in Florida?

[madfloridian]

5. Teachers can't strike in FL. It's illegal.

And we are a Right to Work state. Even saying the word union around here can end in a fight.

When I was still teaching our county union was strong, but the state unions were wishy washy. Sort of like the Democratic Party here in Florida.

[obamanut2012]

29. It's illegal there

[Rex]

6. Not a chance, not here in this smalll

town. Teachers are the unsung heroes.

[russspeakeasy]

7. The plan was never intended for the betterment of education.

It was done for money.

[madfloridian]

8. They must make the public schools and teachers look bad...

before they can replace them with charter schools and give vouchers to unaccredited private schools which can't be regulated. They have to do that to get government out of the business of education. That's the only way to do it.

[Sadiedog]

11. exactly!

[HiPointDem]

35. It's what they do before attacking any population; same as in war. "The Evil Hun!!!" "The lazy

welfare mother!!!"

Always the same technique; take away a group's humanity, encourage others to attack them, so that they can be stripped of income, protections, and sometimes their very lives.

[madfloridian]

37. Very well said.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, madfloridian.

[madfloridian]

10. Thanks for the k&r, and you are welcome.

I get carried away at some of the outrageous things they are doing to education.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. k&r

[madfloridian]

17. Thanks for k&r.

Much appreciated.

[roody]

13. And who made how much money

on that?

[madfloridian]

14. We'll never know.

Unfortunately private schools and charter schools can be exempt from transparency.

[liberal_at_heart]

15. kick

[madfloridian]

16. More about this irresponsible action from Lakeland Ledger. Angers me.

Department of Education takes information off Internet after it is deemed to be inaccurate.

District officials said the deadline to submit the evaluation information changed more than once, making it difficult for school districts across the state to comply.

The formula used to apply student achievement data to the evaluation is complicated, and district officials said they did not get clear interpretation on how to do it.

"We're committed to establishing a system that accurately evaluates our teachers' performance and ultimately enhances the education received by our students," said Cheryl Joe, the School District's director of professional development.

They admit to not even knowing what they were doing. That's pretty bad. No excuses, Cheyl Joe. Heard too many already.

[Rex]

18. Sounds like a gaggle of republicans trying

to bullshit their way out of a room.

[madfloridian]

24. Heh heh, and not doing a very good job of it either.

[Rex]

25. So glad to see you here my friend.

Your posts on education are a must!

I don't know how much longer the corporate 'education industrial complex' can maintain a hold over our school systems. The 'college mills' are horrendous too.

[Kurovski]

19. madfloridian!

Now I don't have to sneak off to the old abandoned mill to see you!

K&R

[madfloridian]

21. Hey Kurovski. Missed seeing you around.

Been a year almost that I stalled about coming here. In the short time I have already got 4 who have me ignored and blocked, and I have not even been controversial yet.

[quaker bill]

20. Damaging people by arbitrary action

to impose ideological notions that are rushed, poorly considered, and ultimately make no sense has become the new normal, and it is hardly restricted to the education field. Educators do however get more than their proportional share.

"Critics of the new system said the snafu did not surprise them." In a sane world it should be a surprise, but this is Florida.

[madfloridian]

22. Just another day in this state, it's ridiculous.

Haven't seen you in a long time.

[quaker bill]

26. Good to see you as well.

[madfloridian]

23. 94% of FL teachers get top marks on new evaluation? They took it down?

Does the high success rate have anything to do with it? Very weird.

http://m.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-12-05/story/florida-teacher-evaluation-report-shows-94-percent-get-top-marks-first

"Florida teacher evaluation report shows 94 percent get top marks on First Coast"

Too much merit pay to put out?

"After releasing its first-ever, statewide look at public school teacher evaluations, Florida’s Department of Education has pulled the report and its data from public view.

The report was initially released late Wednesday morning, but officials in Hillsborough County noted a discrepancy and the report was taken down. The report didn’t contain evaluations of every teacher, but it had enough information on Duval, Baker, Nassau, Clay and St. Johns school districts.

Kathy Hebda, the state’s deputy chancellor for educator quality, said Wednesday that all districts will have submitted all their evaluation data within this month and a new, more complete teacher report will be available in January."

[libdem4life]

27. Go ahead with your Teacher Evaluations ... as soon as teachers can select their students.

here's what an actual "sampling or mix" might look like...

Kids...through no fault of their own, BTW, who could be considered ...

Slow learners ... not properly retained when they fail a grade...passed right along.
ESL ... no English or limited English
Mentally retarded ... by Special Education Specialists
AHDH ... noted when they come running in the classroom and side into their desk like 3rd base
Physically handicapped ... when Full Inclusion primarily means letting go Special Ed teachers
Emotionally handicapped from abusive homes ... sky's the limit here
Speech difficulties ... various types


Each class does not necessarily include all of the above, and some kids might get "taken out" for an hour or two a day or week, but the classroom teacher generally has responsibility for all.

It should be a requirement that every Administrator substitute teach for a full week every year ...promise to leave clear lesson plans...and Each Board Member and pundit and parent serve as an Instructional Aide in an elementary classroom for a week.

[madfloridian]

28. "as soon as teachers can select their students."

How true! I was often given the problem kids because I could handle them. It was okay with me then because there was not the high priority testing. Now I would never want that to happen.

[libdem4life]

30. My last year of teaching... I went to my friend, the Principal, and asked.

How come I have 5 EH (now called ADHD) students...swinging from the proverbial chandeliers? He looked down and said, because the teachers and parents requested you because you can actually teach them. It was a compliment, but I left the next year. In a way, I still feel a bit guilty, but I made a lot more money in sales.

[madfloridian]

31. With new reforms compliments like that could cost a teacher her career.

It sounds so noble to be able to handle the difficult children, to be told they are putting them in our classroom because we are good with them.

But now with the testing becoming the whole game, it is a compliment no teacher will want.

One year I had 4, maybe 5 diagnosed ADHD, really serious cases. I had two others being staffed into special education. There was one seriously disturbed child that was ignored by the county no matter how much help I sought for him.

That was my last year, I never went back in a classroom. I used to love teaching, but it had become impossible.

[libdem4life]

32. I so understand...and I stand by my challenge for every Administrator to be sentenced to a minimum

of one week in the classroom with at least two "educationally handicapped/inclusion" students with the edict to "individualize" and deliver meaningful test results, and one Board Member and "activist" parent one week of acting as a Teacher's Aide.

[liberal_at_heart]

33. believe me us "activist" parents aren't happy with the administrators either

When my son was forced to take 6th grade math when he had a 3rd grade understanding of math I didn't blame the teacher, I blamed the district, still do. Although during my son's last IEP his math teacher did say something that rather made me mad. He asked me wasn't I glad they didn't let him go back to LRCII because presumedly he would not have made as many strides as he did had he gone back to LRCII. My answer. No. That whole year he came home crying and asking to skip saying he did not want to go back.

[madfloridian]

34. Those tests are doing real harm to students.

Our country has never been about one size fits all, and to use a single test on all students is outrageous. Where's the allowance for individuality?

That is a national top down edict, and I was already seeing the harm done when I retired. It's a tragedy.

[libdem4life]

36. Yes they are. Regurgitating vs. Learning/Critical Thinking.

But that's exactly what adults do who seek to acquire professional licenses (real estate, insurance) as those tests are equally antiquated and usually not relevant to the subject. Same for higher learning such as the LSAT, SAT and other standardized tests. They give actual classes providing skill and information for passing the test. Now if that's not teaching to the test, don't know what is.