Roundup: Ineffective Teacher Training, Handcuffed Kids, AP US History Changes

Today’s education news includes a new report telling us what we already knew (that teacher support programs aren’t generally effective), plus followup on that kid handcuffing story from Alabama and an update on the new, new AP US History standards:

Study: Billions of dollars in annual teacher training is largely a waste Washington Post: A new study of 10,000 teachers found that professional development — the teacher workshops and training that cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year — is largely a waste. In the TNTP study, about one-third of teachers — 3 out of 10 — improved over a two-to-three-year period after participating in training while 20 percent got worse, as measured by teacher evaluations. See also WBEZ, Washington Post.

Washington DC swears by teacher coaches – are they the solution to Common Core woes? Hechinger Report: These instructional coaches are tasked with observing teachers’ classes, helping them plan lessons and — particularly for newer teachers — helping them become more comfortable in front of a classroom. In turn, DCPS evaluates coaches, in part, through whether the teachers’ students improve.