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Teacher evaluation reform measure moves from committee
PA Chamber supports bill to improve teacher performance and accountability
PA Chamber members applauded movement on a bill (H.B. 1980) that would establish new teacher evaluation standards in On Nov. 16, the House Education Committee passed House Bill 1980, which was drafted to address the contradiction between low test scores and increased drop-out rates among students and the 99.4 percent “satisfactory” rating for the state’s public school teachers. The bill would replace the inefficient “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” evaluation standard with a scaled system that would rate a teacher’s performance as distinguished, proficient, needs improvement or failing. A teacher’s final rating would be determined through an evaluation process based on 50 percent traditional classroom observation and 50 percent student achievement. Currently being offered as a voluntary pilot program through the Department of Education, the process proposed in H.B. 1980 has the shared support of PA Chamber members, several lawmakers and Gov. Tom Corbett, who have all stressed the need to spend education dollars more wisely instead of simply spending more. The governor’s four-part education reform plan, which is endorsed by the PA Chamber, focuses on the need to improve the current teacher evaluation process. Doing so would ensure that educators get the training they need to improve their skills, while boosting student achievement. In advance of a House Education committee meeting, the PA Chamber expressed support for the bill and an amendment adopted by the committee that addressed some concerns previously vetted by public school teachers. The added language would delay implementation of the law until 2014 so that the results of the pilot program can be analyzed more thoroughly, and would allow for more flexibility at the local level when reviewing the 50 percent student achievement portion of the teacher review process The PA Chamber explained in its memo to lawmakers that passing H.B. 1980 would inspire a new generation of business leaders by helping to bridge the gap between employer needs and employee skills sets, as today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce. The PA Chamber urges the full House to pass this important education reform measure. ### Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business. |
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