If you listen to the numbers, there's no need for any change in the way teachers and principals are evaluated in public schools here in Washington State.
Data is in from a first-ever statewide survey about their performance. It says very few teachers are a problem: not even 500 were rated unsatisfactory in all of Washington.
That's less than three quarters of one percent (.75%) of the state's public school teachers. And even fewer principals – only 41 of nearly 3,000 – got a bad write up.
But state superintendent Randy Dorn isn't satisfied. He says the evaluation system is outmoded and he's hearing a lot from members of the community who are concerned. For example, teachers usually know in advance when a principal will be observing their classroom.
This new survey is now required by the federal government. All but 6 of the state's nearly 300 school districts took part.
According to the Seattle Times, last year Washington's state lawmakers passed a law requiring all school districts to overhaul teacher and principal evaluation systems by the 2013-1014 school year.