NJ Reducing Test Scores to 10% of Ed Eval

On August 6, 2014, the NJ State Board of Education approved regulation changes that would reduce the weight of test scores in the evaluation of teachers of math and English from 30% to 10% in SY 14-15. Under the changes, "student growth" for those teachers would also include Student Growth Objectives (SGOs, aka Student Learning Objectives) weighted at 20%. Observations will be 70% of their evaluations. Teachers of the "non-tested" grades and subjects will have SGOs at 20% and observations at 80%. The reg changes also include an expedited review for those who contest the use of the SGOs to drop their overall ratings to "partially effective" or "ineffective."


Just another example of how states have the flexibility to define "student growth" in a way that does not overly rely on the test score measures from new tests that will be coming online in SY 14-15.