Knox Co. educator concerned about TNReady score impact on teacher evaluations

Knoxville — Despite reassurance from lawmakers, Knox County teachers still have concerns about the impact of TNReady scores on their evaluations.

Teachers give grades, but they get grades too. Their students' scores are supposed to factor into how teachers are rated.

Lauren Hopson teaches second grade at Halls Elementary in Knox County. She says state legislators haven't done enough to make sure the problems with the TNReady testing won't affect teachers.

"Those teachers who teach in our struggling schools, that's something that they look at very closely," Hopson said.

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It's how those grades are determined that concerns Hopson.

"The formula itself is not known to anybody that is going to be evaluated on it," she said.

According to the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System scores come from a statistical analysis of different tests—including TNReady scores.

"It was never intended to be used for students," Hopson said. "In fact, Dr. Sanders from UT who developed the system, expressly said he never intended for it to be used in the evaluation of teachers or schools."

That's why, she says, there needs to be a change.

"Teachers have gone every year during the legislative session to talk to legislators," Hopson said. "Since there have been so many concerns about TNReady, I think they're starting to listen a little bit more."

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Those concerns about the way the test was administered pushed the General Assembly to decide the scores won't be held against students, teachers and public school districts.

"There was a harmless provision that was passed that said this particular year's worth of tests cannot impact one's salary, cannot impact one's employment situation," state Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville, said.

Brooks said the bill is clear the scores won't affect teachers.

"It doesn't take a great deal of just reading the statue that was passed, to understand that was on whole harmless, in those particular categories," Brooks said.

Hopson said she hopes lawmakers will look into revamping the entire evaluation system soon.