Teacher Evaluations in the Arts Are Coming. Are you Ready?

We have all heard the stories… teachers need to be held accountable for student growth. I suspect most people would not disagree with this statement.

Where there is plenty of debate and disagreement though is “how?”

For subjects like language arts and math where there are statewide assessments to measure student performance the task of tying student growth to teacher evaluation “may” be easier. Notice I said, “may.” That’s because just because something is possible does not mean it is the proper thing to do and there is plenty of debate about tying student test scores to teacher evaluations.

But here is the reality: tying teacher performance (ALL TEACHERS) to student achievement and student growth is a freight train rolling down the railroad track…. And it is heading down hill. The national movement tie teachers assessment to student outcomes will be the “new normal” for teachers across this country… including you… music and arts educators.

Which leads to the logical question… how will this be accomplished?

And the answer the profession has right now is… “We do not know!”

And this is the scariest statement of all.

Here is why: