By Daily Press staff
Teachers in Santa Monica and Malibu are dissatisfied with the new mandatory standards-based report card, according to Harry M. Keiley, president of the Santa Monica- Malibu Classroom Teacher’s Association (SMMCTA), which is affiliated with the more than 300,000 members of the California Teachers Association. Keiley expressed that the standards-based system was implemented too hastily and neglected to consult teachers on the decision. The teachers have filed a formal letter to the district indicating that they are exercising their right to negotiate the decision regarding the transition to a new type of report card.
Earlier this year, the school district shifted to a new standards-based report card for all elementary schools, prompting complaints from teachers. Traditionally, student report cards have consisted of categories which are represented by numerical grades ranging from one to five. The new standards based report cards have more than 50 standards each, each standard representing an expected area of learning. Keiley notes that the standards need to be simplified and considerably reduced in number in order for the system to be efficient. The current design of the standards makes it cumbersome for teachers to grade students, and also poses a challenge to parents and students trying to decipher the report card.
Will Rogers Elementary School teacher Sarah Braff says the new system is needlessly complicated and difficult to implement.“I’m not sure how useful it is to have an elementary report card with more than 50 categories or standards. It’s far too complicated and it’s not easily understandable for teachers, students or parents.”
In addition to the detail in the standards, the computer program chosen to create the standards-based report cards is time-consuming for teachers. The program does not always function properly and is not compatible with all school computers — problems which might have been avoided had the administration not rushed into implementing the new system. Keiley explains, “The district made these new report cards mandatory and told every teacher they had to fill out the forms on a computer. What they didn’t do was choose a teacher friendly electronic program.”
Keiley says that most of the problems with the new report cards could have been averted had district administrators worked with the leadership of SMMCTA before rolling out the new system.“Right now we have a needlessly complicated form, time consuming process and an ineffective electronic program. As a result, the Union recently exerted its legal right to negotiate this matter. I wish we could have been allowed to help fix this earlier. We’re definitely looking forward to bringing this issue to the bargaining table where we are hopeful we can find some remedies to this problem.” Schoolhouse rock
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 16, 2006. Read the original PDF.