The SDEA Teacher Quality Task Force
What:
SDEA's Teacher Quality Task Force is developing recommendations to improve South Dakota's accountability system. The member-driven group is coming together in response to President Obama's announcement that the Administration will give states the opportunity to apply for flexibility in meeting the mandates of NCLB. Several states, including South Dakota, expressed concern over the number of schools that would be considered failing and requested relief.
Why:
The goal of the task force is to have suggestions ready for SDEA President Sandy Arseneault to take to the state's newly established "Next Generation of Accountability" work group. The SD Department of Education created the group to serve in an advisory capacity as it moves forward with developing an accountability system that meets the waiver requirements.
How:
The following nine questions will guide the members as they develop recommendations for each element of the new accountability framework:
- Performance objectives align to college and career readiness - What does College and Career Ready mean?
- Valid measures of student outcomes disaggregated by student subgroups - What indicators are valid measures of student performance?
- Determinations that capture school and district performance - How should schools and districts be evaluated?
- Transparent reporting of determinations and other data - What is the best method to share school and district accountability results with all educational stakeholders?
- Diagnostic reviews to determine causes of school and district performance, including review and analysis of school/district processes - How can schools and districts be studied to determine effective processes and necessary interventions?
- Classifications that distinguish schools and districts which will drive supports and interventions at all levels - How can schools and districts be identified accurately and fairly?
- Range of supports and interventions to promote continuous improvement, particularly with regard to lowest performing schools?
- Innovation, evaluation and continuous improvement of the accountability system - How can the accountability system be positioned for continuous improvement?
- Teacher Quality - How can we identify highly qualified and/or highly effective classroom teachers?
The Teacher Accountability Task Force's work will continue through February. If you have some thoughts or suggestions on how South Dakota can improve the accountability system please share them here.
Let us know what you think!
As a part of the Teacher Quality Task Force's goals, we would like to hear from you: the member. Your opinion matters to us. Fill out the form below to send along your input or let task force members know through email below.
