Key Senator Says Change in Teacher Assessment Needs to be Meaningful

Next week the General Assembly will enter a special session focused on education. The main legislation up for debate would change how the state assesses teachers. A key senator says test scores should play a significant role.

Even the state’s teachers unions say they can support using test scores as part of an annual assessment. Senator Jamie Woodson, who sits on the Education Committee, says the debate will likely be over how much of the teacher assessment will be based on student achievement.

“It needs to be meaningful. Certainly a low percentage, I would be far less likely to be supportive of than something more significant.”

Woodson says she’s not drawing a line in the sand. The governor has suggested 50% as a starting point.

The state legislature will have a week to make changes in education law that have been discussed for years.

“We’ve got to hurry up and do it to get it accomplished, but that’s just a reality that we’re dealing with, and it’s a reality that will significantly increase our chances of success.”

Senator Woodson supports the governor’s proposal and says it should find favor in the General Assembly.