Testimony of WEAC President Mary Bell before the Senate Committee on Education in support of LRB-3235/3

10/28/2009 11:05:01 AM

October 28, 2009

Good afternoon. My name is Mary Bell. I am a library media specialist and English teacher and am currently serving as President of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, representing educators from across the state. I have nearly 30 years experience as a teacher, most recently in the Wisconsin Rapids School District. I am here today to express WEAC’s support for LRB-3235/3.
The Race to the Top grant application process offers Wisconsin an opportunity to secure additional resources for our public schools to boost student achievement. Wisconsin has a tradition in investing in what research has shown to make a difference for student learning including smaller class sizes, educator professional development and early childhood education. By securing Race to the Top federal grant dollars and investing them wisely, Wisconsin can build upon this proud tradition.

To be eligible for Race to the Top federal grant dollars, the U.S. Department of Education has indicated that Wisconsin needs to make a technical change to its law regarding the use of student test data to evaluate teachers. Our union of educators believes the changes embodied in the proposal before you today reflect the best practices in developing and implementing comprehensive and effective teacher evaluation systems while ensuring Wisconsin’s eligibility for Race to the Top dollars.

Current Wisconsin law prohibits using student test results on the 4th, 8th and 10th grade Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) to evaluate teachers. This represents the only barrier in state law to linking student test scores to teacher evaluation.
Under this legislation, a school board could use the student results on the WKCE for teacher evaluations provided the board has developed a teacher evaluation plan that includes a description of the evaluation process, multiple criteria in addition to exam results, the rationale for using exam results to evaluate teachers, and an explanation of how the board intends to use the evaluations to improve pupil academic achievement.

In addition, this legislation ensures that teachers are at the table in discussions surrounding the use of student data on these standardized tests by making the teacher evaluation plan a mandatory subject of collective bargaining. Children and communities benefit whenever teachers and school boards work collaboratively with a focus on the goal of improving student learning.
The proposal acknowledges that just as a single test does not represent the sum total of a student’s abilities, a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom cannot be judged solely on their students’ standardized test scores. There are a multitude of factors that make a teacher successful, and I think we all can agree that the result of one test given on one day in a school year isn’t a true measure.

As the state moves in this direction, WEAC believes it is more important than ever for school districts to offer meaningful professional development as well as give educators adequate preparation time. Professional development related to assessment literacy is critical if assessments are to be used effectively together with curriculum and instruction to improve student learning. In addition, educators need preparation time built into the day to design appropriate assessment plans and strategize and collaborate about adapting their practice to increase student achievement. Now is not the time to eliminate or reduce such preparation time as it is so important to effective teaching.

In conclusion, WEAC supports the proposal before you today because it will ensure that Wisconsin is eligible for Race to the Top grants with the vital quality assurance component reached through collaboration between staff and employer.
It calls on all of us to work together in the best interest of our state’s children and our public schools, and that’s what Wisconsin’s educators stand for. I hope you’ll join us in support of this proposal. Thank you.

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