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This link takes you to the District's SERVE proposal: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/laborrelations/index.dxml

"District's SERVE sounds good but isn't."  Click this link to see a list of very nice sounding objectives behind SERVE, and an interpretation of those objectives: why these objectives are wolves-in-sheeps-clothing. 

PG&E

• is the result of a two-year collarobrative process between Seattle educators and District administrators. 
• "uses student test data for teacher growth, not punishment"...
• "makes student progress the foundation of teachers' professional growth
• "increases the level of accountability for educators with a focus on great teachers in every classroom"
•  "helps take the guesswork and bias out of educators' evaluations"

SERVE

• "[is] a last-minute end-run around that collaborative [PG&E] process by demanding that teacher evaluations be tied to student test scores."
•  sets student achievement goals without accountability for enhancing professional practice."
• sounds good but isn't...click here for more 

"The likely outcome of SERVE is skewed data that would not be reliable for high-stakes personnel decisions."

The following is a quoatation of an email dated Aug 13, 2010 from the teacher's union president Olga Addaeto SEA members. This was passed to S3B by an SPS teacher.

For the past two years, Seattle educators have worked hand in hand with top district administrators to create a new model for growth and evaluation that focuses on helping Seattle's students succeed. Now our superintendent is attempting a last-minute end-run around that collaborative process by demanding that teacher evaluations be tied to student test scores. So what's in the Professional Growth and Evaluation plan (PG&E) that was developed jointly by SEA and the district? Why is it   historic change, how does it benefit students and help close the achievement gap?

It makes student progress the foundation of teachers' professional growth

*  All certificated teachers will set annual student achievement goals which are specific and measurable
*  Using the Professional Practice Standards as a guide, teachers will set professional growth goals to help obtain student achievement goals.
*  Recognizes clearly that "Student growth data shall be relevant to the teacher and subject matter, and must be based on multiple measures that may include classroom based district based, and state based assessments as well as, attendance, discipline data, mobility and completion (course or year) rates of students. Student growth means the change in student achievement between two points in time."
*  The joint PG&E plan focuses on student achievement goals AND linking Professional goals that enhance our professional teaching practice. SERVE sets student achievement goals without accountability for enhancing professional practice.

It helps take the guesswork and bias out of educators' evaluations

*  Uses clear standards based on four domains from the research of Charlotte Danielson that have been tried and tested in other districts where improvement has been documented.

The four domains are: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instructional Skill and Professional Responsibility.
*  Sets clear indicators of acceptable performance based on standards within each domain.
*  Culturally relevant practices are integrated in all four domains.
*  Establishes a four-level rating system: Innovative, Proficient, Basic and Unsatisfactory.

It increases the level of accountability for educators with a focus on great teachers in every classroom

*  For newer educators, it increases the number of required observations and conferences by administrators.
*  Requires any teachers not in the top two levels in any domain - Proficient or Innovative - to be on a Plan of Support.
*  Improvement plans are clearly defined for administrators and educators.
*  Establishes a support system in the form of Human Resource Consulting Teachers to assist educators who are on Performance Improvement Plans.
*  Maintains probationary process for either improvement or dismissal for those deemed Unsatisfactory
in any of the four domains.
*  PG & E would be phased in beginning this year to replace the current evaluation system while ensuring that it is implemented with fidelity. It would be fully implemented by 2013-2014.
*  All teachers will participate in collaborative groups called Professional Learning Communities (PLC's).
*  Enhances collaborative work amongst educators focused on the academic achievement of students with an emphasis on culturally relevant practice.

PGE uses student test data for teacher growth, not punishment

*  Educators are professionals and believe in accountability. The joint plan negotiated with the district mirrors the state's goals to use test data correctly to improve teaching, and it has the support of Seattle's educators. 

*  The big difference? The state plan means teachers will be evaluated on their ability to use the student data to modify their instruction (which happens every day in the classroom) and, unlike SERVE, would not misuse student assessment results to deem teachers "good or bad." 

*  In addition to test data, SERVE would also rely on student surveys at the high school level. This ignores that some students may lack the sophistication to provide detailed qualitative feedback on instructional techniques. For instance, is a teacher "mean" or does that teacher simply set high standards and hold students accountable? In an era of instant communications, students could easily organize a negative evaluation for even great teachers whom they simply don't like. The likely outcome of SERVE is skewed data that would not be reliable for high-stakes personnel decisions.

Learn more at www.SeattleWEA.org

Copyright 2010 Seattle Education Association / WashingtonbEducation Association.