California Expected To Delay On Standardized Test-Based Teacher Evaluations

The Orange County Register (8/27, Leal) reports the Obama Administration "is widely expected in September to require such data-driven teacher grading systems as a condition of granting a statewide waiver to the much-maligned No Child Left Behind test standards," but "California is likely to shrug off" this new set of requirements. Earlier this year, Obama "won a key endorsement when" the National Education Association said "it would support Obama's efforts as long as tests were 'developmentally appropriate, scientifically valid, and reliable for the purpose of measuring both student learning and a teacher's performance.'" But late last week, California Superintendent Tom Torlakson "asked Duncan on Thursday to consider an unconditional waiver, suggesting the state might not qualify under Duncan's plan and arguing it would be unfair for the federal government to demand overhauls without providing money to implement them," the Register noted.