CMS Testing Ramps Up Next Week As Part Of Teacher Evaluations

The annual End-of-Grade tests aren't until May, but end-of-year testing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools begins in earnest next week. CMS will administer 52 tests that will be used to evaluate teachers. Superintendent Peter Gorman is hearing from a lot of unhappy parents. The Charlotte Observer's Ann Doss Helms has a report here. According to the story, Cotswold Elementary parent Katie Catron wrote Gorman that, "You are overburdening a system that is at a breaking point. I give full support to the staff at my children's school. This is one area that I must stand up for my children and other CMS students to say enough testing is enough. Find another way to evaluate your staff." The tests are part of Gorman's plan to pay teachers based on performance. His goal is to start the program in 2014. "We can see who's a great teacher, who's a good teacher and who's a teacher that needs improvement," Gorman told the Observer. Here's a link to the Observer's story. Here's a link to a video Gorman emailed to teachers.