Governor Haslam gives teachers a choice of whether to include TNReady test scores in evaluations

NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced his plans Wednesday to give teachers a break over TNReady test scores.

The tests hit a major glitch this month when some schools could not access the online testing program.

So the state went back to regular tests for this year.

Now the governor says he will leave it up to individual teachers whether they want this year’s test scores used in their evaluations.

He said in a statement “Given recent, unexpected changes in the administration of the new assessment, we want to provide teachers with additional flexibility for this first year’s data.”

The state’s largest teacher’s union is applauding the move.

TEA President Barbara Gray says ““It is encouraging to see the governor listen to the widespread calls from educators, parents and local school boards for a one-year moratorium for TNReady data in teacher evaluation.”

But the Governor’s offer is just a one year deal.

The TEA will continue to completely eliminate the test scores from teacher evaluations.

Gray says “These measurements have proven to be unreliable statistical estimates that are inappropriate for use in teacher evaluations at all.”