Some work to do!

Just a little job to do TODAY!

Friends, sometimes I feel like I’m slogging through a quagmire of just terrible news.

Even with two days in a row of 60+ degrees here in Chicago, even with the Rockefeller carillon bells ringing out the Beatles’ “Here Comes The Sun,” even with vaccines rolling out everywhere—still there is so much that is just oppressive and concerning. You all have your own burdens so I certainly don’t need to recite any of mine!

But here is what I have for you today. One quick, very simple, effective thing you can do TODAY to help improve education in Illinois.

The bill HB655 will get rid of one of the odious elements of teacher training in Illinois, edTPA. Currently, student teachers have to pony up $300 or more to undergo this Pearson-administered assessment the many elements of which include a video of the student teacher at work. What this of course means is, the children in the student teacher’s class are also on the video; something we are all trying desperately to get away from is more instances of our children’s information being submitted to more Pearson departments. In addition, edTPA’s portfolio requirements have caused student teachers to pay less attention to the matter of learning to teach and more to the fulfillment of the portfolio. And finally, only one person, a temp worker, assesses the portfolio, and offers one numbered score and no feedback. edTPA is actually holding back new potential teachers—and in a time when there is already a serious teacher shortage this is not optimal.

But don’t take my word for it. You can read research in Educational Leadership and The Hechinger Report, commentary by Dr. Bernard Bull and Dr. Julie Gorlewski, and a years-long 2019 study from the American Educational Research Journal and summarized in EdWeek. This thing has become just one more griftery obstacle that adds to Pearson’s coffers and forces one more videotaped intrusion into your children’s lives.

HB655 will end the use of edTPA in Illinois. It’s being heard TOMORROW so you have time to put a witness slip in TODAY. Its bipartisan sponsors number 4 Republicans and 2 Democrats. (Do I need to stress how unusual this is in the current climate?)

Here’s the link: Witness Slip for HB655

IMPORTANT: Check PROPONENT of this bill, which will END the use of edTPA. The slip asks contact information, and there are a few lines for who or what you are representing. You may put “self” or “citizen” in these blanks if you are not representing anyone. For the last set of options you probably want to choose “record of appearance” unless you plan to submit a letter.

That’s it. You just submitted a witness slip. Ta da! As for me, I did one, and will now commence to calling my representatives to make sure they’re on board. You can do that too if you’re feeling particularly hopeful and energized by this ridiculously gorgeous day.

Here is a little photo from my neighborhood ramblings this week.

It’s not long now: flowers on trees, grass turning green, absurd little resurrections all around us; vaccines on their way, our lives back, a Chicago summer full of adventure.

Thanks for helping get public education on a stronger footing, friends, and out of the grasp of grifters. Much more work to come. I’ll dole it out just a little at a time.

Follow CPF Insider on twitter @JulieVassilatos