Group opposes teacher evaluations on state constitution

A group of local residents has formed a not-for-profit group called NOT -- or No On 3, in opposition to Amendment 3 -- against a proposed change to the Missouri Constitution dealing with teacher evaluations.

NOT treasurer David Larson said 11 people from Cape Girardeau County attended the group's last meeting, and others from outside the area are interested as well. The next gathering is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Geraldine Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark St.

Amendment 3 comes up for a vote Nov. 4.

A "yes" vote would amend the Missouri Constitution to require teachers to be evaluated by a standards-based performance system, and each system must earn state approval for a school district to receive state and local funding.

Additionally, teachers would be dismissed, retained, demoted or promoted using student performance data as part of the process. Teachers would be required to enter into contracts of three or fewer years with public school districts, with exceptions. The amendment would prohibit teachers from organizing or collectively bargaining on the design and implementation of the evaluation system.

A "no" vote would not amend the state constitution.

Kate Casas, spokeswoman for teachgreat.org, which led the ballot initiative, did not respond to an email Friday.

Larson is also part of a group called PAPER, or People Actively Promoting Education Reform, which opposed Common Core standards. Common Core aims to define the knowledge and skills that all students should master by the end of each grade level, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website said.

Larson said NOT has four areas it's concentrating on to defeat Amendment 3 -- public affairs, social media, random canvassing, targeted canvassing and distributing yard signs.

The public is invited to Wednesday's meeting, at which the group will begin looking for volunteers. Larson said NOT is not associated with Protect Our Local Schools, a statewide coalition of parents, teachers, principals, superintendents and school boards.

"The language in the amendment really worried some folks that I've met through different political things here, so we decided to put together a campaign committee to defeat that amendment," Larson said.

He said NOT is looking at the amendment from a taxpayer/stakeholder standpoint. The wording in the amendment that talks about districts requiring state approval for teacher evaluations is a "huge problem," Larson said.

Making it a constitutional amendment also is of concern because it makes it difficult for changes to be made. Larson said this means a resident couldn't talk to a legislator and get the ball rolling on a revision.

More than 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation would be based on student test results in subjects such as science and English. But having to test in areas such as art, shop and agriculture classes would more difficult.

A higher number of standardized tests is another aspect NOT doesn't like because the expense would fall on taxpayers, Larson said.

"It takes away from the relationship with parents, teachers and school administrators on how to best educate the children within a specific school district," Larson said.

For more information on No On 3, contact Larson at 979-5975 or keepedlocal@gmail.com.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Amendment 3

Amendment 3 asks if the state Constitution should be amended to:

* Require teachers to be evaluated by a standards-based performance system for which each local school district must receive state approval to continue receiving state and local funding;

* Require teachers to be dismissed, retained, demoted, promoted and paid primarily using quantifiable student performance data as part of the evaluation system.

* Require teachers to enter into contracts of three years or fewer with public school districts.

* And prohibit teachers from organizing or collectively bargaining about the design and implementation of the teacher evaluation system.

Decisions by school districts on provisions allowed or required by this proposal and their implementation would influence the potential costs or savings for each district. Significant potential costs may be incurred by the state or the districts if new or additional evaluation instruments must be developed to satisfy the proposal's performance evaluation requirements.

Source: Missouri Secretary of State's office

Under the proposal

* In materials provided by teachgreat.org, it says the proposed amendment is designed to reward and protect good teachers; ensures administrators are able to support struggling teachers; and makes it easier for schools to hire "more great teachers."

* On the subject of local control, the material says local school districts decide on the life of contracts and decisions regarding what is in teacher evaluations are made at the local level. Layoff decisions are made at the local level, as well, eliminating the last-in, first-out rule where the last teachers hired are the first ones let go, regardless of performance.

* The proposal also allows local districts to create their own method of performance-based evaluation. The majority of an educator's evaluations will be based on student academic growth and the remainder will be tied to principal observation, student/parent surveys and professionalism, among other things.

* Under the measure, the practice of rewarding lifetime or indefinite contracts will be eliminated, but teachers will still have the protection from discrimination or unfair termination that other people have under state and federal laws, just like all other employees.

Pertinent address: 711 N. Clark St.