Louisiana House Bill HCR107

Louisiana 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/26/21
• Engrossed: 6/1/21

Caption

Requests that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education take all necessary actions to provide that no measure of student growth be used in the evaluation of teachers for the 2020-2021 school year

Impact

The resolution aims to influence state educational policy by establishing guidelines for evaluating teachers in light of the extraordinary circumstances that defined the 2020-2021 academic year. By eliminating the use of student growth data in evaluations, HCR107 seeks to protect teachers from being assessed based on potentially misleading or incomplete measures due to the pandemic's impact on education. This move is particularly relevant given the uneven access to in-person and online education that many students experienced during this time.

Summary

HCR107, introduced by Representative Gary Carter, is a concurrent resolution that urges the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to take all necessary actions to ensure that no measure of student growth is used in the evaluation of teachers for the 2020-2021 school year. This resolution arose in response to the considerable challenges faced in education during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the instructional methods and outcomes for students across the state. It highlights the unique educational circumstances, including different forms of teaching and learning, which have made it difficult to accurately assess student performance during this disrupted school year.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HCR107 is largely positive among educators and advocates who appreciate the recognition of the challenges posed by the pandemic. Supporters argue that using growth metrics for teacher evaluations during such an unprecedented period would be unjust, potentially leading to unfair consequences for teachers. The unanimous support in the House indicates a broad consensus on safeguarding educators from evaluation metrics that may not accurately reflect their performance or the realities of student learning during the pandemic.

Contention

While no notable points of contention were reported during the voting process, the resolution does underscore ongoing issues in education regarding standardized testing and evaluation methods. Critics of traditional evaluation metrics may view HCR107 as a step towards a more nuanced approach to teacher assessments, particularly in crisis situations. This resolution brings forth the larger discussion about the role of standardized measures in education and their capability to reflect true teaching effectiveness, especially under trying circumstances.