Method to Grade Teachers Provokes Battles

The value-added formula to evaluate teachers is gaining acceptance, and critics, across America.

To be useful tests must be administered at the start and end of the teaching contact. Students entering and leaving the class during the contact period must not be part of the measuring sample. There must be a steep accounting for crowding. Weather days and sick days must be accounted for. There is doubtless more that I have not considered. Curriculum has varied between teachers and schools as well as school districts.

My experience was that everyone who passed chemistry aced the regents. It was the same with history.