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State will ask for more time before using new test in teacher evaluation

Delaware Public Media

The state Department of Education is requesting an additional one-year delay on the national requirement to use state test scores when evaluating teacher performance.

Last year, DOE requested and received a similar delay for this year - the first that the Smarter Balance assessment is being used in Delaware public schools.

The move comes as some state lawmakers are set to introduce a bill in the General Assembly that would force the state DOE to request another waiver.

Rep. Sean Lynn (D-Dover), who is co-sponsoring the bill, says the Smarter Balanced test is still too new to be used in evaluating Delaware teachers.

“The inherent reliability of the test at this juncture, I believe, is still in question,” Lynn said. “As such I’d be remiss if I believed it should be included in teacher and principal evaluations.”

Lynn added Wednesday that while the state now appears willing to take that step without legislation, the bill remains ready just in case.

“My training as a lawyer has taught me that until I see it in writing it is my natural predilection to keep my foot on the accelerator,” he says. “I’ve asked for the bill to be removed from the education agenda Wednesday, however the bill will be held on the ready list in case we need it.”

In a statement, state Education Secretary Murphy said the decision came in response to the pushback against the Smarter Balance test.

“We have been listening to feedback from many of our stakeholders, including our teachers and state representatives, on this important issue, and we will make this request on their behalf,” said Murphy. “We are committed to working with all of them to ensure that Smarter Balanced is a valuable tool to support educators and their students. Moving forward, we will be able to effectively use results from the test during these delay years to prepare for future educator evaluations.”

The request to delay using the Smarter Balanced test in teacher evaluations comes amid a larger debate about testing in the First State.

Gov. Markell announced last week that the state will undertake a broad review of all testing at Delaware public schools to eliminate those that are redundant or inefficient.

Secretary Murphy said he would make the request for the delay to the U.S. Department of Education Wednesday, but before he can formally ask for that he needs approval from the State Board of Education. That body is set to make a decision Thursday.

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