The SC Department of Education has put together a draft proposal for flexibility under federal accountability laws (NCLB/ESEA).
You can click here to access the SC Department of Education files related to this request. Comments can be submitted on this website (the comment period ends January 23, 2012).
Here a few of the changes that are being requested in the draft document …
- Schools would receive a letter grade rather than using the current rating system (excellent, good, etc.).
- High performing schools may receive financial incentives for progress.
- All teachers would be evaluated on a multi-level scale and performance of students would be a component of this plan.
- Principal evaluations will also be modified to include an assessment of school performance.
- A sophisticated state-wide assessment system will be developed to track student performance as part of the evaluation process.
We all know that NCLB/ESEA needs modification and change. The US Congress has been unable to act to make revisions, so the US Department of Education is providing an opportunity for states to seek waivers.
Just like NCLB, the real issues are the details of the change. In principle things often sound very good, but the “devil is in the details.”
