How Florida Teachers Are Evaluated, Paid

Background

Fifty percent of a teacher’s evaluation is based on a formula called the Value Added Model. It predicts how students should score on the state’s standardized exam – the FCAT, and rates teachers based on how well their students measured up to the predicted FCAT score.

The other 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation comes from principal observations by school principals.

By 2014, teachers evaluation will determine how much teachers get paid and whether they keep their jobs.

The first bill Gov. Rick Scott signed into law, SB 736 rewrote how teachers are paid and retained across the state.

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August 25, 2014

Essay: What A Teacher Score Doesn’t Tell Us

I finally know my worth as a teacher—and now that the “value-added model” scores mandated by our state legislature are public, everyone else knows, too. I’m a 37.5. But, I have no idea what that number means. Along with my 37.5, I was told I’m “highly effective” and given a $230 bonus. In case you’re […]

August 20, 2014

Report: Miami-Dade’s Poorest Schools Have District’s Least Experienced Teachers

Students in some of Miami-Dade’s lowest-income schools are more likely to have teachers who are new to the profession, who miss more school time and who receive lower evaluation scores, according to a new analysis by the National Council for Teacher Quality. Washington, D.C.-based NCTQ looked at student and school data by school board district […]

July 18, 2014

Florida Teachers More Likely To Leave The Profession

Florida teachers are leaving the classroom at a faster rate than the national average, according to a new study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Richard Ingersoll for the Alliance for Excellent Education. About 8 percent of Florida teachers left the classroom from 2008 to 2009. Nationally, 6.8 percent of teachers left the classroom during the […]

June 4, 2014

How A Conflict In Florida Policies Means The End Of A Student Help Desk

A recurring theme in Florida education is that policies intended to address separate issues can and do conflict with each other. For instance, Florida lawmakers changed high school graduation requirements last year so that students no longer have to complete Algebra II. Research shows most students won’t use Algebra II in their careers, and many […]

May 13, 2014

Two New Studies Find Problems With Teacher Evaluations

Two new national studies raise questions about the how accurate modern teacher evaluations are. The first study, from the University of Southern California’s Morgan Polikoff and the University of Pennsylvania’s Andrew Porter, finds test-based evaluation scores have little to no link to other teacher quality measures, such as how well instruction matches standards and the […]

March 19, 2014

Florida Still Has Lengthy To-Do List For Federal Grant

The U.S. Department of Education says Florida trails other states in meeting the requirements of its $700 million federal Race to the Top grant, Education Week reports. From the story: Yet even with billions of dollars and the political cover that came with winning a grant, the annual reports show that states still struggle mightily […]

January 21, 2014

Florida Schools Chief: No Break From School Grades During Switch To New Test

Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said she doesn’t support a proposal from state school superintendents to overhaul the school grading system as Florida switches to new math and language arts standards — and statewide tests — next school year. The Florida Association of District School Superintendents want state leaders to replace the A-through-F grades with […]

January 8, 2014

Education Commissioner Outlines Plans For Standards, School Grades, Evaluations And Privacy

The Florida Department of Education could suggest about 40 changes to the state’s K-12 standards, including requiring the teaching of cursive writing and the use of decimals when counting money. But Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said the changes were minor and would have little impact on students, teachers and administrators preparing for the final […]

January 2, 2014

What’s Florida’s Education Plan? Lawmakers Expect Details Next Week

The chairman of the Senate education committee is asking the Florida Department of Education to have its plans for new standards and assessments ready when commissioner Pam Stewart speaks at a meeting next week. The education committee will meet Wednesday in Tallahassee. Chairman John Legg said what Stewart says could determine whether lawmakers delay new […]

December 30, 2013

The Florida Education Stories To Watch In 2014

Implementing New Common Core Standards Florida is one of 45 states that have fully adopted new math, English and literacy standards known as Common Core. Political opposition to the standards built throughout the year in both Florida and across the country. Every Florida grade is scheduled to switch to the new standards this fall. The […]