State ignoring federal school mandate
July 15, 2013
California school officials have largely disregarded the Obama Administration’s direction for education, marking a rare state departure from adherence to federal policy. (Los Angeles Times)
At issue is the practice of grading performances of teachers, and rewarding or punishing individuals based on those performance reports.
California’s reluctance to conform has resulted in the administration’s withholding of a waiver from requirements of the No Child Left Behind program, exposing local schools to federal discipline.
A heavy hand by the California Teachers Association is at the center of the disagreement; the CTA is at the forefront of opposition to teacher evaluation by one-size-fits-all testing standards.
Gov. Jerry Brown and State Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson back the union’s efforts.
“We think the federal government is foolish to keep insisting on this,” Richard Zeiger, Torlakson’s chief deputy, told The Times. “It just doesn’t fit with the style of reform we are pursuing in California.”
The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Comment Guidelines