As over 20,000 Chicago teachers strike for a second day over compensation and job evaluations, L.A. Unified is set to vote on a proposal by board member Steve Zimmer that aims to exclude student test scores from individual teacher evaluations.
Zimmer asserts that standardized testing of students for teacher evaluations, by itself, is too limited and is asking for a more rounded evaluation process. Zimmer’s critics, however, maintain that his proposal may delay the needed implementation of standardized test scores for assessing educators.
Meanwhile, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) is strongly opposed to using test scores for measuring teacher performance and continues its attempts to block the use of these evaluation methods. Will teachers in LA follow in the footsteps of their Chicago peers and go on strike? What can the LAUSD learn from the situation in Chicago?
Guests:
Howard Blume, Education Reporter, Los Angeles Times
Tamar Galatzan, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member, District 3