Rating teachers

Most parents and students in the US believe that they should be allowed to use AP (Advanced Placement) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test results to rate AP or IB teachers and as a consequence encourage those teachers to do their utmost to prepare students for the college-level examinations.

"The long-term test results of similar cohorts of students taking the same teacher's AP or IB class reflect a good part of the teacher's ability, in the same way that mortality rates for a surgeon and investment results for a financial adviser reflect on those professionals' competency,'' said Robert Rosenfeld, a parent in Maryland. "Although teachers cannot be held to guarantee test results, nonetheless teachers can be held to deliver effective instruction.''

Sophia Twaddell said she agreed, and told a story about two AP classes her son took in high school. "As a junior he took AP US history with a fabulous teacher and scored a 5,'' she said. "This year he took AP European history with a teacher who was completely mediocre ... and guess what? He only scored a three. ... Had I known that some teachers' students scored higher on average than others, I would have demanded placements for my sons in those classrooms.''

Teachers are important, said many, and families should be entitled to information that will help them decide which are best.

Peter Johnson, chair of the social studies department and AP teacher at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, said, "AP teachers should face some sort of accountability, and having their pass rates become public knowledge can be an effective motivating tool. I know this may sound harsh, but I have known quite a few AP teachers during my career as both a high school student and teacher who have taught AP courses only because they figure that fewer disciplinary problems will arise in such courses, or because they will receive an additional financial stipend for it.''

— Los Angeles Times-Washington Post