For some time now, some districts across the country have chosen to evaluate teachers based on student test scores, but according to a recent Gallup poll, a majority of Americans do not support the method.

According to the Phi Delta Kappa Gallup poll, only 38 percent of Americans favor using student performance on standardized tests to evaluate teachers, with parents being less supportive at 31 percent. 

"Of three reasons proposed for evaluating a teacher’s performance in the classroom, 77 percent of Americans said helping teachers improve their ability to teach is a very important reason for evaluating them," the report said. "But fewer Americans [65 percent] said documenting ineffectiveness that can lead to dismissal is a very important reason to evaluate their performance, and 46 percent said using teacher performance to determine salaries and bonuses is very important."

According to an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the poll found that "61 percent of respondents proposed plans - like one in Georgia - to make student test scores 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation."

Georgia and several other states are launching new, high-stakes evaluation systems that influence decisions about hiring, firing, certification and--for some--pay. Many are tied to a $400 million federal grant called Race to the Top. Georgia recently said it would ask for another year before fully launching the controversial evaluation system.

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Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor