Policy-Making...No Teachers?!

I'm working on spreading the word regarding the following Kentucky education policy problem. I'm guessing this type of scenario is common in other states, as well...teachers, make your voices heard!

More Teacher Input Needed at KDE

On August 5th, Kentucky Education Commissioner Jon Draud called to order the first meeting of the Task Force on Assessment and Accountability. The group is charged with reviewing Kentucky’s Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). According to a statement from the Commissioner’s office, the group strives to “ensure that it meets the best interests of Kentucky’s Public School students.” The Task Force will present proposals and or recommendations to the Kentucky General Assembly in January 2009.

In other words, this group could potentially influence and suggest big decisions affecting our schools, teachers, and students. But here’s the kicker—there are currently no classroom teachers on the Task Force. The exclusion of teachers from the Task Force is a slap in the face to the dedicated professionals in Kentucky classrooms. Representatives from teachers’ unions are in the group, but no current practicing teachers are allowed to sit in and speak at the meetings. The Commissioner apparently feels it is sufficient to include two union representations who no longer teach—out of 20 plus members of the force—to provide our voice. I disagree with this stance. There is little reason to believe that the current makeup of the Task Force will provide a balanced perspective on teaching and learning.

Unfortunately, many of us teachers, after several years of toiling under the unreasonably punitive No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal accountability law, have been told time and time again what’s in the “best interest” of kids, instead of being invited to the decision-making table. It’s not a surprise there is so much teacher discontent with many current accountability laws and the resulting pressures and practices that come with the territory.

Nobody knows what is in the “best interests” of our students better than dedicated teachers currently serving in classrooms, those who experience the real-world pressures and challenges of measuring student learning day after day. Unless Commissioner Draud changes his mind to actively invite and include more teacher voices on the Task Force, then whatever decisions the group makes have to be taken with a grain of salt.

I worry Commissioner Draud is not planning on actively soliciting any formal input from the real experts in the field—us teachers—by means of survey or other methods. Luckily, several members of the Task Force welcome written input from teachers regarding complicated educational issues relating to measuring student learning.

On a deeper level, the whole Task Force process—however it plays out—is just another reminder of how our democratic system can end up undermining what should be(come) a participatory decision making process when so many people are affected. Complacency plagues our democracy at many levels. Sometimes we can blame ourselves for standing on the sidelines. But at other times, like this, we are at risk of being left in the dark.

Please don’t sit this one out. Join me in contacting Commissioner Draud’s office to encourage more inclusive policy making at the Kentucky Department of Education.