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Knoxville Lawsuit Challenges Use of Student Test Scores

 

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/TNS/WMOT) — Tennessee's largest teachers' union is suing the Knox County Board of Education, claiming the student test scores used to assess a teacher's performance were flawed and cost her a bonus.

 

The Tennessee Education Association has long argued that the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System, or TVAAS, shouldn't be relied upon because it's a statistical estimate.

The lawsuit says Knox County teacher Lisa Trout was unfairly denied the district's bonus after being misled about how her TVAAS estimate would be calculated.

Tonya Coats is president of the Knox County Education Association.

“We want to be held accountable for what we’re teaching the students and how we’re treating students. However, we want to make sure again that it’s fair and it’s equitable and that it’s consistent.”

The TEA has proposed legislation during the current General Assembly that would prohibit TVAAS scores from being tied to teacher licensing.