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Math Teachers Tests: DOE Press release
Posted:
May 4, 2000 12:04 AM
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Here is the latest press release from DOE on testing math teachers:
For Immediate Release
Contact: Darrell S. Pressley, 781-338-3126
Wednesday, May 3, 2000
Department Of Education Invites Public Comment On The Testing Of Math
Teachers In Low-Performing Schools Malden - Five public forums will be
held in May as an opportunity for teachers, parents and others to
comment on proposed regulations regarding the diagnostic testing of
certain math teachers with under-performing math programs.
Governor Paul Cellucci, in his State of the State address, directed
the Board of Education to test math teachers in those schools where
more than 30 percent of students are failing mathematics.
Commissioner of Education David P. Driscoll said, "Our objective is to
hear from the field about factors affecting student performance in
mathematics. Our goal is to gather advice from people, and report
their views back to the state Board of Education."
Commissioner Driscoll and the Board of Education are also interested
in the broader concern of student achievement in mathematics. While
these proposed amendments address the issue of teachers' content
knowledge and professional development, there are other factors
affecting student achievement in mathematics, as measured by MCAS,
especially in schools in which large numbers of students are failing.
Specifically, the Board is interested in public comment to address the
following questions:
What type of professional development will be most beneficial to
mathematics teachers?
How can schools and districts better structure mathematics programs
and better utilize mathematics teachers to improve student achievement
in mathematics?
How can districts with poor student achievement in mathematics attract
and retain outstanding certified mathematics teachers, especially at
the middle school level?
What can schools do to involve parents and/or community resources to
improve mathematics achievement?
Public forums are scheduled for:
Tuesday, May 9 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. West Junior High School, Brockton
(co-sponsored by the Brockton Education Association)
Thursday, May 11 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center,
Shrewsbury
Monday, May 15 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Carson Place at the Boston Teachers
Union,Dorchester
Monday, May 15 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. in Northampton,location to be
announced
Tuesday, May 16 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Merrimack Professional Development
Center, Chelmsford
Draft state regulations would require schools with low-performing
mathematics programs to register their math teachers to take a
Mathematics Content Assessment selected by the Board of Education.
Also, there are proposed amendments to the Recertification Regulations
that would require individual results from the Mathematics Content
Assessment be used by those teachers and their principals to tailor
their professional development plans to address any weaknesses
identified through the diagnostic testing.
Commissioner Driscoll would have the authority to refer schools with
low-performing mathematics programs for a review under the Regulations
for Under-Performing Schools and Districts, in addition to those
schools identified through the school performance rating process.
The Board is currently scheduled to vote on the proposed amendments at
its regular monthly meeting on May 23.
A policy questionnaire on the proposal to test certain mathematics
teachers will be available at the forums and online.
For more information on the proposed amendments, visit the Teacher
Quality Enhancement website.
Written comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted to Ann
Duffy, Associate Commissioner for Educator Quality, 350 Main St.,
Malden, MA 02148, by fax at 781-338-3392, or by e-mail to
TeachMath@doe.mass.edu. The deadline for submission of written comment
is May 16.
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