In two weeks, Michigan legislators will begin hearings on how to improve teacher evaluations in the state. They’ll consider a new plan submitted recently by the Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness. That's an independent body created by Governor Rick Snyder and the legislature two years ago after the passage of teacher tenure reform in Michigan.
One of the council’s main recommendations is that half of a teacher’s evaluation be based on classroom practices and half on student growth based on test scores.
Key members of the MCEE have been getting lots of questions and feedback about their plan. Yesterday, the Detroit Free Press hosted a web chat with some of those members. We thought it was a good opportunity to check in on the process.
?David Vensel, the Principal of Jefferson High School in Monroe, Michigan. Mr. Vensel was also a voting member of the Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness panel that studied the issue and wrote the plan. He spoke with Current State about his work.