DCPS Teacher Evaluations Not Yet Affecting Test Scores

More than 200 teachers fired for poor performance were among the approximately 400 DCPS employees terminated Friday. This is the second year the evaluation tool has been used to fire teachers considered "ineffective."

This is also the second year students test scores have fallen at the elementary school level.

Henderson says it's too soon to see a connection.

"We've never expected to see test scores results in year one or year two even," she says.

Henderson says for now, the evaluations lay a foundation for improvements in areas such as professional development and curricular reforms. But the goal is higher test scores.

"I think what we'll see in the next couple years is both improved scores as well as teachers scoring at higher levels," Henderson says. "And if we don't see those improvements, we'll have to reassess our approach.

Employees who have been fired have a month to appeal the decision.