Robert J. Katz
A 3rd grade teacher at Nueva Vista Elementary in 2010
These graphs show a teacher's "value-added" rating based on his or her students' progress on the California Standards Tests in math and English. The Times’ analysis used all valid student scores available for this teacher from the 2003-04 through 2009-10 academic years. The value-added scores reflect a teacher's effectiveness at raising standardized test scores and, as such, capture only one aspect of a teacher's work.
Math effectiveness
English effectiveness
About this rating
The red lines show The Times’ value-added estimates for this teacher. Katz falls within the “most effective” category of district teachers in math and within the “average” category in English. These ratings were calculated based on test scores from 109 students.
Because this is a statistical measure, each score has a degree of uncertainty. The shading represents the range of values within which Katz’s actual effectiveness score is most likely to fall. The score is most likely to be in the center of the shaded area, near the red line, and less likely in the lightly shaded area. Teachers with ratings based on a small number of student test scores will a have wider shaded range.
The beige area shows how the district's 11,500 elementary school teachers are distributed across the categories.
Katz's LAUSD teaching history
Years used for value-added rating. See FAQ for details.
- Nueva Vista Elementary, 2010 - 2004
Robert Katz's Response:
No Mama Grizzly Protecting Us!
It is disheartening that some people who should know better, such as Superintendent Cortines and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, did not publicly condemn the Los Angeles Times for releasing teachers' value added scores via the internet. Now every looky-loo with too much time on their hands can peruse what should be confidential personnnel information. Mr. Duncan actually came out in support of releasing the scores, and peppered the media with flippant remarks like "What is there to hide?" . Thus he never directly addressed teachers' legitimate concerns.
Since my ranking is based on how I did compared to other teachers it GUARANTEES that forty percent (20% less effective and 20% least effective) of my fellow teachers will be cast in a negative light. One would hope that one's employer would take offense at allowing forty percent of his/her employees (teachers in this case) to be publicly labeled less or least effective on any part of their job performance.
In my opinion value added scores do have a place in helping me improve my job performance, but they should be kept private and not included as part my formal evaluations.
The Times gave LAUSD elementary school teachers rated in this database the opportunity to preview their value-added evaluations and publicly respond. Some issues raised by teachers may be addressed in the FAQ. Teachers who have not commented may do so by contacting The Times.
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