Support Teacher Evaluation Based on Multiple Factors

Please take time to ask your Senators and Representative to support teacher evaluation based on multiple factors and not just students’ standardized test scores. Research shows that effective evaluation connects teacher learning and professional development as well as student achievement; indicates that evaluators need to know about school context; and suggests that value-added measures lack validity.

To call:  Contact the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, give your zip code and the operator will connect you to your legislator’s office (you will need to repeat this to contact all three of your legislators).  Please leave the message above.   You can do this 24 hours a day and leave a voice mail if necessary.   

To write in support of this issue:  Use the letter template below.

• Please take a few minutes to edit the letter in the template after paragraph three to add a brief personal example demonstrating the importance of evaluating teachers by multiple factors.
• For your information, the NCTE Legislative Platform calls upon policymakers at all levels to fund teacher evaluation systems that move beyond student test scores by basing evaluation on clearly defined standards of professional practice measured by the following:
  • Documentation of ongoing learning and collaboration that supports the learning of all students (up-to-date content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge).
  • Classroom observation (of higher-order learning; differentiated instruction; student engagement; teacher interaction with students; student interaction with one another; instructional methods, tools, and technologies).
  • Student products and performances.
  • A variety of appropriate assessments.
  • Teacher reflections, portfolios, and goal achievements.
  • Student feedback.