Imagine your dog Goldy took an obedience class at Pets4Us. Goldy’s a friendly golden doodle that you’ve had since he was a puppy. At the end of the class he passes the test with flying colors. He does all the things he was taught beautifully. The next time that class is held the same dog trainer has Arrow, my silky terrier, in her class. Arrow was adopted as a stray when he was about a year old. His tail was docked. Maybe he was in a puppy mill because he was a little afraid of people. Arrow doesn’t score so well at the end of the class. He’s learned some things but he doesn’t pass. After Arrow’s class, Pets4Us fires the dog trainer.
That is the way more and more states evaluate, fire, and/or give incentive pay to teachers. In many states, like Colorado, the tests have no effect on the students Test takers don’t have to pass them to graduate and the scores don't change grades. Some students, like Goldy, are more academically orientated, are good test takers, want to please, and do their best. Arrow is in it for the treats and he is exited about seeing all the other dogs.
Yet we in Colorado are comparing test scores from year to year, test scores of different groups of students, and making decisions about firing or rewarding teachers financially and even closing schools. Often they take different tests. We are not giving Arrow another chance at that obedience class and then comparing his first score with his second results. That might show real progress. And I say might because it is only measuring one very limited aspect of Arrow’s behavior in one setting. It’s not looking at him outside of the test.
Goldy is the dog with all the advantages. Actually he learned some of the things tested (Sit, Down) even before he went to the Pets4Us class. Arrow is really doing a great job adjusting to life with his family, but he still has some quirks. Is it because of his early life, his terrier background, or some special mental disorder? Unfortunately for the poor fired trainer, we’ll never know.