Last Updated: 4:35 PM, February 25, 2012
Posted: 4:34 PM, February 25, 2012
"I think the discussion taking place today after the rankings is healthy," Chancellor Dennis Walcott said today after an event at the First Central Baptist Church in Staten Island. "We want people to understand the information as well as knowing what's happening in your child's classroom."
The Post won a protracted 17-month legal battle against the teachers union to secure the release of the data, which includes rankings for thousands of fourth- through eight-grade teachers and gives parents an unprecedented look into how instructors perform in the classroom.
DATABASE: PERFORMANCE GRADES FOR NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS (ORGANIZED BY SCHOOL)
BROOKLYN PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS GOOD, BAD MATH CLASSES A FEW DOORS APART
ONLY 32 TEACHERS SCORED A 99 PERCENT RANKING
EDITORIAL: WHY TEACHER GRADES MATTER
It also showed A-rated PS 86 in Fordham Manor in The Bronx had the most top-tier instructors while C-rated PS 89 in Bronxdale had the biggest share of poorly-performing teachers.
Overall, the DOE officials said they found 521 teachers who were consistently in the bottom 5 percent -- the lowest performance category -- in either math or reading. That compares to 696 teachers who consistently rated in the top 5 percent.
Walcott today repeated concerns that the release contained "old and limited data," but said he hopes that the evaluations lead to more "interactive" parent teacher conferences.
He said he and the DOE staff will hold forums to explain what the evaluations mean for the future.
"Its just one limited piece of information...People shouldn't judge our teachers based on this information," Walcott said. "I want to make sure people don't use this data to denigrate our workforce.
Walcott said he's gotten mixed reactions from teachers about the release. The teachers union lost three appeals after The Post requested the information in August 2010. Walcott said there's a verification process for incorrect data.
"We knew when we published it there was going to be reactions, I even have mixed reactions myself," Walcott said. "This is old data. I believe in our workforce, I believe in our teachers.""
While Walcott said he hopes the data released yesterday leads to a greater participation between parents and the school system, but cautioned it is not the only tool to evaluate instructors.
"A parent has a right to raise these questions. They don't have a right to say I don't want that teacher for my student," Walcott said. "I want the parents engaged in terms of what's happening ... I just don't want parents to view this as a be all and end all"
Walcott said the data evaluation is complex and can't be used a definitive yardstick with which to measure teachers.
"Worst and best and all that, I don't know if this is fair. It's old data, it's limited data," Walcott said. "People are having very gut reactions to the publication of the data."
"We want people to understand the information as well as knowing what's happening in your child's classroom," he added.
In acknowledging the limitations of the teacher rankings, Walcott said the city would work to make the data more complete and easier to understand going forward.
"We were ordered by courts to release this ... we have a responsibility to take the next step to make sure its being viewed properly," Walcott said. "This is brand new. We have a responsibility to share exactly what's contained in the data. We'll have a better system in place in the future."
"I'm just very concerned about people using this data in a way that denigrates teachers. The goal to me is to have healthy discussion. If this is what takes places that's a healthy thing.," he added.
The Post won a protracted 17-month legal battle against the teachers union to secure the release of the data, which includes rankings for thousands of fourth- through eight-grade teachers and gives parents an unprecedented look into how instructors perform in the classroom.
David McGlynn
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott today called the controversial release of teacher evaluations "healthy" and a first step towards increasing parent-The rankings show Brooklyn had the most schools with four or more teachers rated in the 90th percentile or above -- but also the highest number of schools with four or more teachers ranked in the bottom 10 percent.
BROOKLYN PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS GOOD, BAD MATH CLASSES A FEW DOORS APART
ONLY 32 TEACHERS SCORED A 99 PERCENT RANKING
EDITORIAL: WHY TEACHER GRADES MATTER
It also showed A-rated PS 86 in Fordham Manor in The Bronx had the most top-tier instructors while C-rated PS 89 in Bronxdale had the biggest share of poorly-performing teachers.
Overall, the DOE officials said they found 521 teachers who were consistently in the bottom 5 percent -- the lowest performance category -- in either math or reading. That compares to 696 teachers who consistently rated in the top 5 percent.
Walcott today repeated concerns that the release contained "old and limited data," but said he hopes that the evaluations lead to more "interactive" parent teacher conferences.
He said he and the DOE staff will hold forums to explain what the evaluations mean for the future.
"Its just one limited piece of information...People shouldn't judge our teachers based on this information," Walcott said. "I want to make sure people don't use this data to denigrate our workforce.
Walcott said he's gotten mixed reactions from teachers about the release. The teachers union lost three appeals after The Post requested the information in August 2010. Walcott said there's a verification process for incorrect data.
"We knew when we published it there was going to be reactions, I even have mixed reactions myself," Walcott said. "This is old data. I believe in our workforce, I believe in our teachers.""
While Walcott said he hopes the data released yesterday leads to a greater participation between parents and the school system, but cautioned it is not the only tool to evaluate instructors.
"A parent has a right to raise these questions. They don't have a right to say I don't want that teacher for my student," Walcott said. "I want the parents engaged in terms of what's happening ... I just don't want parents to view this as a be all and end all"
Walcott said the data evaluation is complex and can't be used a definitive yardstick with which to measure teachers.
"Worst and best and all that, I don't know if this is fair. It's old data, it's limited data," Walcott said. "People are having very gut reactions to the publication of the data."
"We want people to understand the information as well as knowing what's happening in your child's classroom," he added.
In acknowledging the limitations of the teacher rankings, Walcott said the city would work to make the data more complete and easier to understand going forward.
"We were ordered by courts to release this ... we have a responsibility to take the next step to make sure its being viewed properly," Walcott said. "This is brand new. We have a responsibility to share exactly what's contained in the data. We'll have a better system in place in the future."
"I'm just very concerned about people using this data in a way that denigrates teachers. The goal to me is to have healthy discussion. If this is what takes places that's a healthy thing.," he added.
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