Opinion: Value-added rating system of teachers is unreliable

A.J. Duffy, president of the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), writes in USA Today that an article published in The LA Times about value-added rankings for teachers “sacrificed both the tenets of responsible journalism and the reputations of thousands of teachers through this deceptive presentation of complex data.”  While Duffy does believe that "data are an element for guiding instruction in the classroom," he emphasizes that the process is not as simple as "having a simple number that confirms we are on track."

Duffy believes that using multiple ways of evaluating teachers is crucial and says, “UTLA teachers will continue to work toward creating an evaluation that works for students, is a fair and accurate measure of teacher effectiveness, and supports the teaching process.” Read the full article at USA Today online.