Test scores can be a valuable tool to improve teaching
August 24, 2010 Filed in: School Rankings
Column: Carol Veravanich, The Orange County
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regard to that the LA Times using the value-added model model, they
cannot evaluate us "expendable" kindergarten or first-grade
teachers, now can they? It is true that this model will not measure
the value that kindergarten or first-grade teachers add. In fact,
if a school has a highly effective kindergarten and first grade
staff, that can have a negative impact on the school's VAM score.
The students might be prepared to score at or above average in
second grade and their beginning scores may be too high. The model
tries to predict how high a student will continue to score each
year…