Here Comes the Monkey! Best Practices for Using Student Test Scores as Part of the Teacher Evaluation Process Based on an Analysis of Legislation and Litigation in Early-Adopting Race to the Top State

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against school officials since the first Race to the Top (RTTT) monies were awarded in 2011, requiring school districts in participating states to incorporate student scores on standardized tests into their teacher evaluation processes. This study researched the history of standardized testing in the United States from Horace Mann to Common Core, the timeline of education reform in the United States, changes to state statutes in response to the federal Race to the Top program, and litigation filed in early-adopting RTTT states in response to the student growth component. It concludes with findings that provide school district administrators with a framework for avoiding litigation---and improving student learning---when applying student test scores to the teacher evaluation process.