Parents Across America has just issued a nationwide call for state legislatures to eliminate teacher ratings based on student test score growth, known as Value Added Measurement (VAM). Teacher VAM ratings are notoriously inaccurate. They have also been a major factor in the growth of state-required standardized tests.

North Carolina is a prime example. Requiring VAM ratings for all North Carolina teachers has helped spark an enormous expansion in state testing. This includes the North Carolina Final Exams and the early-grade Reading 3D assessments.

Thanks to the newly passed Every Student Succeeds Act, states now have the power to eliminate VAM from their teacher evaluation systems. This would allow them to dramatically reduce the number of state-required standardized tests.

Reducing state testing would make it possible for schools, teachers and students to put more time, money and energy into teaching and learning. It would also be an important step in making North Carolina a more teacher-friendly state.

Please stay tuned for more information on  efforts to encourage North Carolina’s educational leaders to make this crucial change. If you have questions, please e-mail us at info@mecklenburgacts.org.

The PAA statement on the problems with VAM is here, and a one-page summary is here.