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| Wilson for Teacher Option |
January 16, 2004 |
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The Albuquerque Journal
By Katie Burford
Congresswomen Heather Wilson said she wants Albuquerque Public Schools to offer teachers an additional option to prove they are highly qualified.
The Republican wants APS to allow veteran teachers the option of a state process when being evaluated as part of a federal measure.
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires all elementary and secondary teachers of core academic subjects to be "highly qualified" by the end of the 2005-`06 school year.
School districts that don`t meet the June 2006 deadline for having 100 percent highly qualified teachers in core academic areas could lose federal funding.
Teachers can show they`re highly qualified by holding a bachelor`s degree in the area they teach or passing certain state tests.
A third option -- geared for experienced teachers -- sets guidelines for states to develop their own evaluation method.
Last year, APS decided against offering teachers the third option and officials said it is unlikely a change will be made.
Wilson said the decision is worth reconsidering.
"We want to keep the best teachers," Wilson said. "There are a lot of ways to get to that point."
She said she began examining the matter after meeting with some Eisenhower Middle School teachers last week.
APS officials cited two reasons for passing up the evaluation option: time and money.
"We didn`t know if we would be able to set up the process and get teachers through it in time," APS spokesman Rigo Chavez said.
New Mexico`s evaluation process was developed by a team of academics, teacher association members and state officials. It was approved in August by the now defunct state Board of Education. The state Public Education Department is finalizing the paperwork this month. It`s up to school districts whether they use the process.
Teachers eligible for this option must have five years experience, 12 hours college credit in their area and good evaluations for the past two years.
According to the process, two teachers -- themselves highly qualified -- are appointed to review the teacher, who must submit a portfolio. Classroom observations, either in person or by video, are also part of the evaluation.
Andrea Trybus, APS interim executive director of human resources, said getting the process set up and finding money to pay evaluators would take too much time.
"We don`t have the luxury of time right now," she said.
Albuquerque Teachers Federation president Ellen Bernstein said teachers would like to have the choice.
"Our feeling is that the options for teachers ought to be expanded not narrowed," she said.
Trybus said a less complicated process would be teachers taking one of the state`s assessment tests, which cost $94 each.
Presently there isn`t a test specifically for middle school teachers, but the state Education Department expects to have one by September. APS has said it will reimburse teachers who pass their test. |
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