How Are Teachers Held Accountable

Unfortunately, the procedure which is behind teaching is far from conducting a few lessons and going home afterwards. There can be a lot of pressure which is associated with teaching, and how educators perform. A good teaching methodology needs to be reflected by positive results from students following on from tests. If a teacher's skills are not reflected in test results, how are they held accountable?

There is an ongoing debate amongst educational professionals as to how this should be the case. Even though some students would proceed to blame the teachers if they have low scores following on from assessments, there can be a lot of the time where the student's lack of commitment, motivation or effort can be to blame.

However, the one thing that those in the management areas in education look for is consistency amongst how a teacher performs in front of their class. If a teacher is performing relatively well with results on a constant basis, there can be an assurance that they are doing their job to requirements. If the test results across classes can be patchy amongst different ability groups, with students not meeting their targets, or if results are repeatedly low, there could be questions raised as to whether teachers are accountable for bad performance.

It can be difficult to determine whether teachers are to blame in some circumstances, particularly if they have had to produce exceedingly good results with a lack of teacher resources or a large class size. It is logical that results can be somewhat diluted if one member of staff has a high ratio of students to contend with - with those who need educational support not getting all of the help that they need.

Other teachers might have an exceptional capability when helping people to learn, but the environment in which a student comes from is affecting their overall potential. In circumstances where a student is expected to complete homework, it can be difficult for the pupil to thrive because of how they might come from a home environment which is not encouraging and disciplined in education. The parental influence that is had on students is severe, and so there are arguments for whether or not the teacher really is to blame.

Every teacher will have to answer for the results that they bring to the class if they are unsatisfactory, below standards or out of line with previous years. Just some of the people who will hold teachers accountable include the head of their respective department and the principal of the school in which they work. Even though penalizing might not be the most viable option when trying to make progress, there will be a closer eye on a teacher made in order to ensure that the performance improves instead of continuing to decline. Thankfully, the infrastructure of America's education system is in such a way that deviancy from expected professionalism is not tolerated for too long - meaning everybody has a positive future ahead of them.

More On Teacher Accountability

• How do I assess students' progress? - The quick answer is, with every assignment.
• NWREL's Assessment and Evaluation Program- Provides research and development assistance to education, government, community agencies, business and labor.
• Teaching to the Test
• Teaching "To" Tests: a Conceptual Article
• What's Wrong with Teaching to the Test?- by Jerry Becker