Laura Perelman Freedman

A 3rd grade teacher at Dixie Canyon Avenue Elementary in 2009

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 2002-03 through 2008-09 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.

Overall value-added effectiveness

Math effectiveness

English effectiveness

This chart shows where teachers in this effectiveness category fall on a distribution of all teachers’ scores.

Compared with other Los Angeles Unified teachers on the value-added measure of test score improvement, Freedman ranked:

Least effective overall.
Least effective in math. Students of teachers in this category, on average, lost about 10 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.
Less effective than average in English. Students of teachers in this category, on average, lost about 3 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.

Freedman's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Dixie Canyon Avenue Elementary, 2009 - 2003

Laura Freedman's Response:

I have been a teacher for 37 years. No student whom I have taught has ever been cheated in any way. I am confident of my skill, and ability to teach in creative ways that inspire highly gifted learners, as well as those who are at a remedial level. Test scores do not reflect a teachers quality of educating. They only reflect a students ability to retain information that was presented.
Although this is a small point, it looks as though the students scored 42 in English, and 8 in math. Combined they would equal 50. Therefore, the overall score would be 25, and placed in the less effective category. Hopefully, the rest of your survey is more accurate then presented with these numbers.
Finally, in my last year of service, I want to condemn the Los Angles Times for diminishing the value of all my years of selfless commitment to my students, and their parents. Laura Freedman, B.A., M.A.

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.