Task Force: Mass. Teacher Evaluation System In Need Of Reform

A state education task force told the Massachusetts Board of Education Tuesday that the current teacher evaluation system does not serve students well.

According to the task force (PDF), a new evaluation process should measure teachers based on student learning and classroom observations, as well as other evidence such as how teachers contribute to the school community.

If the Board of Education agrees to factor student learning into teacher’s evaluations, Education Secretary Paul Reveille feels that would be a groundbreaking change.

“We are going to introduce the notion that student performance is relevant to a teacher’s performance and should be considered and for the first time we are going to establish that as a policy of the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Reveille said. “I think that’s a huge step forward.”

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, has agreed that teacher evaluations should include some measure of student learning.