Page 10 - REPORT Brinkman 1-MAY EDU Roundtable
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• I don’t think there is a “state” down solution. We need to empower local districts while
having clear requirements and some common-sense approach to testing. The bureaucrats in
Columbus or in Washington cannot solve for that.
• To me an example of how it goes wrong is how the state uses standardized tests to evaluate
and reward teachers. It causes over testing and then everyone claims the objective tests are
not fair evaluators. I agree. In a normal business, the boss evaluates employees and hires
and fires. If they are unfair, it creates a bad environment and they struggle to get people.
What is my point. We need to give power back to the local level. I agree, you will have some
principals make bad decisions on evaluations but I think the few times that could happen is
much less of an issue than all of the negative results of our over-testing, state bureaucrat
controlled approach today.
9. What does the transition from current standards to new ones look like? What supports will be given
to districts to accomplish the transformation?
• I believe the state should have requirements and support a consistent, common sense, test
approach across schools. Past that I think the districts should have much more say.
• We have created a pattern of the state setting some sort of standards, forcing them on
schools and then needing to support the change. It creates a weird environment. How
weird? Some districts want standards changed not for the benefits to kids but because they
create a funding opportunity. Those schools take the money and then assume by the time
the standards are to be implemented, there will be new standards again.
• That model supports constant change and instability. I think we need to break that model
and get back to local districts making decisions based on their own needs and their own
students.
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