California loses federal funds for teacher database

[xchrom]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-education-funds-20110805,0,1265932.story

The California Department of Education must return a $6-million federal grant intended to help develop a database to track teacher and administrator information, officials said Thursday.

The funds had been earmarked for the data system, which would have collected such information as which courses a teacher had taught and what credentials he or she held. Gov. Jerry Brown cut $2.1 million for the program from the state budget, although he did not ax any funding for a similar database for students.

Brown has said that he believes school districts can keep track of some of their own data.

The Obama administration has made using data to evaluate educators and drive policy decisions a key component for states to receive some kinds of federal aid; some California lawmakers and policymakers had warned that Brown's cuts could lead to less money from Washington.

[msongs]

1. CA already has a teacher credential database that is open to public search. no big loss here nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. That's not the same thing

The system described in the OP has a lot more detailed information.

[Riley18]

2. That 6 million should be put to better use. Programs to help children such as quality tutoring

programs, or anything else that would directly impact children. The "testing" of accredited teachers is a waste of tax dollars which is only serving to make politicians and their pals richer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Yes. I'm not too confident about the 'data' they are wanting to gather

and how they plan to use it.