A Guide to Developing Educator Effectiveness Systems

Posted on March 14, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

Pearson’s Center for Educator Effectiveness has released a new guide to assist states and districts as they begin to develop and implement new teacher and principal evaluation systems. The guide, Evaluating Teachers and Principals: Developing Fair, Valid and Reliable Systems, highlights the critical steps and considerations necessary to build a strong framework for fair and Read more about A Guide to Developing Educator Effectiveness Systems[…]

Straight Talk on Teaching Quality: Six Game-Changing Ideas

Posted on February 23, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

The Annenberg Institute for School Reform and the Schott Foundation for Public Education recently released a new report, Straight Talk on Teaching Quality: Six Game-Changing Ideas and What to Do About Them. The report, which is more of a guide for improving teaching effectiveness, is based on the plethora of evidence that links teaching quality Read more about Straight Talk on Teaching Quality: Six Game-Changing Ideas[…]

Parents Should Be Allowed to Pick Teachers

Posted on January 31, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

In a recent article, Time blogger Andrew Rotherham argues that not only should parents take care when picking their child’s school, but they should be able to go so far as to pick their child’s teacher as well. He argues that even in good schools, teacher effectiveness is so variable that there is still no Read more about Parents Should Be Allowed to Pick Teachers[…]

Lightening the Load: How Community Schools Can Support Effective Teaching

Posted on January 30, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

A new paper from the Center for American Progress takes a look at the increasingly talked about “wraparound services” for children in low-income communities, and the connections to teacher efficiency. Wraparound services generally refer to non-classroom services such as health care, family involvement programs, and food assistance. There is research on the potential benefits Read more about Lightening the Load: How Community Schools Can Support Effective Teaching[…]

Gathering Feedback for Teaching

Posted on January 26, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

Earlier this month, the Gates Foundation released its most recent report on the MET Project (Measures of Effective Teaching). The report focuses on the second set of preliminary findings, particularly on classroom observations. Five instruments for classroom observations are studied: the Framework for Teaching (FFT), developed by the Danielson Group; Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), Read more about Gathering Feedback for Teaching[…]

Teacher Characteristics and Class Assignments

Posted on January 22, 2012April 28, 2012 by coreeducation

There is ample research on the differences in teacher distribution across schools vis-à-vis teacher demographics and experience, but what about teacher distribution within schools? A paper published by the Urban Institute looks at this issue. By comparing teachers within the same grade level and school in an urban district during a given year, the authors Read more about Teacher Characteristics and Class Assignments[…]

Three Ways to Improve America’s Teachers

Posted on January 17, 2012April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

Last month, Wendy Kopp of Teach for America and Dennis Van Roekel of the National Education Association discussed their thoughts on ways to improve the teaching force in the US in an article that appeared in USa Today. “As [education] leaders…we know from experience that great teachers are made, not born…Unfortunately, not all teachers are Read more about Three Ways to Improve America’s Teachers[…]

Pension Reform May Attract Better Teachers

Posted on December 1, 2011April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

The Center for American Progress has released two new reports that attempt to predict the outcomes of traditional defined-benefit pensions for teachers vs. cash-balance plans. Redefining Teacher Pensions: Strategically Defined Benefits for New Teachers and Fiscal Sustainability for All, by Raegan Miller, argues that since teachers are the single most important school-based resource affecting student Read more about Pension Reform May Attract Better Teachers[…]

What Studies Say About Teacher Effectiveness

Posted on November 23, 2011April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

The National Education Writers Association (EWA) has released a research brief on teacher effectiveness. Organized around several prevailing questions about teacher effectiveness, the brief seeks to synthesize the available research to help leaders make informed decisions as they develop teacher evaluation systems. The brief reviews over 40 specific research studies or syntheses and interviews with Read more about What Studies Say About Teacher Effectiveness[…]

Assessing Teacher Prep Based on Student Achievement

Posted on November 6, 2011April 25, 2012 by coreeducation

The Center for Education Data & Research (CEDR) has released a study that examines teacher preparation programs in Washington State, in an effort to determine a link between program efficacy and teacher effectiveness. Comparing data between teacher’s initial endorsements and student achievement on state math and reading tests, the study found that teacher prep programs Read more about Assessing Teacher Prep Based on Student Achievement[…]

iNACOL Revises National Standards for Quality Online Teaching

Posted on October 24, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) recently released their revised standards for online teaching to ensure that students engaged in online learning have access to quality education. The new standards differentiate between two sets of indicators: the first are what the online teacher should know and understand; the second what they should be Read more about iNACOL Revises National Standards for Quality Online Teaching[…]

Beginning Teacher Attrition and Mobility: A Longitudinal Study

Posted on October 19, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently released a “First Look” report on the Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study (BTLS), which collected data from teachers who entered the profession in 2007 or 2008 in three waves (two more waves of collection are expected). This report looks at the first wave of data collection. The study Read more about Beginning Teacher Attrition and Mobility: A Longitudinal Study[…]

Seizing Opportunity at the Top

Posted on October 17, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

A recent report released by Public Impact proposes a strategy for getting an excellent teacher into every classroom, which would “close most of our stubborn achievement gaps in just five years.” An “excellent teacher” is described as one who produces well over today’s typical year of learning growth, and the authors emphasize that it is Read more about Seizing Opportunity at the Top[…]

Harkin Releases Proposal for ESEA Reauthorization

Posted on October 16, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released his draft proposal for the reauthorization of ESEA on October 11. To date, the proposal has been met with mixed reactions across the country. Civil rights groups assert that the proposal to scrap Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is a giant step backwards when it comes to accountability for poor and Read more about Harkin Releases Proposal for ESEA Reauthorization[…]

The Center for Education Reform Launches New Hub

Posted on October 4, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

The Center for Education Reform (CER) recently launched their new, interactive website, which they hope will become the central hub for all things related to education reform. The CER, founded in 1993 to help bridge the gap between education policy and practice, says that it re-designed their site in order to “serve [the public’s] daily Read more about The Center for Education Reform Launches New Hub[…]

New Study Finds Surprising Trends in Teacher Effectiveness

Posted on September 27, 2011April 26, 2012 by coreeducation

A new study published in the current issue of Educational Researcher began with a simple question: Is the well-documented phenomenon of teacher effectiveness increasing substantially over the first two years of teaching due to skill improvement over time, or because weaker teachers choose to leave—making the overall teaching pool look better? Using a value-added model, Read more about New Study Finds Surprising Trends in Teacher Effectiveness[…]