How Age and Race Discrimination Laid the Groundwork for the California Teachers Shortage- A Report

March 4, 2016


Valerie Trahan
2045 Emerson St Lower
Berkeley, CA
Retired Teacher
Masters in Education; Harvard University
510-689-6123


To:  Dr.Linda Darling Hammond; Professor Emeritus Stanford University; (indadh@suse.stanford.edu)
 Dr. Louis Freedberg; University California at Berkeley  (lfreedberg@edsource.org)
Dr. Bill Koski; Stanford University; (bkoski@law.stanford.edu)


SUBJECT: A QUANTITATIVE AND STATISTICAL STUDY ON CALIFORNIA TEACHER SHORTAGES AND AGE DISCRIMINATION


Query: Is the California Teacher Shortage caused by an intentional age discrimination policy?

Subject Area 1: Referrals to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for Discipline

Subject Area 2: Referrals to Peer Assistance and Review (PAR)

Subject Area 3: Los Angeles Unified School District Teacher Jail; Housed Teachers


This letter is in direct response to the Legislative Analyst Office Report on teacher shortages. This report was reported to media on March 1st, 2016.

http://edsource.org/2016/debate-surfaces-over-how-much-state-action-needed-to-ease-teacher-shortages/95302



1.The data used for this query was taken from Public Records Requests. The data acquired from the CTC is teachers referred for discipline between January of 2003 to August of 2014. On the list, their are 3771 teachers. We do not know why these teachers were referred or the disposition of their cases. However, we can do an empirical analysis and measure the probability that the demographics referred due to random or non random events. As a benchmark we will use the Biddle method(http://www.biddle.com/documents/twostats.htm). Utilizing the 1 Z proportion test or the binomial distribution test to measure the likelihood of the observed event. Methodology: I will perform the which is a recognized methodology to measure expected results vs. observed results. The also measures the actual standard deviation and whether the standard deviation meets the legal threshold for a prima facie case of discrimination. The 1 Z Proportion Test shows 6.54 standard deviations for teachers referred to the CTC over the age of 56. According to Biddle, (http://www.biddle.com/documents/twostats.htm) two to three standard deviations is used in Disparate Impact Cases and 5 Standard Deviations for Disparate Treatment Cases. I will use these recognized metrics for my

Our next test to probe discriminatory findings is the Heads or Tails Binomial Distribution Test. This test is also recognized to measure statistical discrimination as recognized by judicial courts. For the CTC Analysis (see attached) The heads or tails binomial distribution test shows 0.00 probability of a random event. This also is for teachers referred to the CTC for discipline over the age of 56.
2. Peer Assistance and Review. PAR is a popular teacher remediation program supported by School Districts and Unions to “improve teacher performance”. However, as you will see, persons referred to PAR have high degrees of education, thousands of hours of professional development, are above 50 years of age, and not coincidently the highest salaried teachers. We will begin with data on Los Angeles Unified School District’s use of PAR.
2A. Peer Assistance and Review Los Angeles Unified School District
2B and 2C Combined-Peer Assistance and Review San Francisco Unified School District and Oakland Unified School District
2C-1 Oakland Unified School District PAR- Binomial Distribution age 56 and over
3A. Teacher Jail Housed Teachers-Los Angeles Unified School District

Objective Findings:
1.The data from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing shows a bias towards persons over the age of 56 not explained by random events.
2A. The data regarding PAR from Los Angeles Unified School District shows racial discrimination towards African American Teachers and teachers over the age of 56. Again the numbers are not explained by random events, and suggest Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact Discrimination.
2B and 2C. The data from San Francisco and Oakland Unified School District shows a bias towards teachers over the age of 56.
2C-1. The data from Oakland Unified School Districts use of Peer Assistance and Review in particular shows intentional age discrimination and not a chance of a random event.
3A. The data from Los Angeles Unified School District regarding “Teacher Jail” or Housed Teachers shows a massive age bias of teachers over the age of 40. In this query 93% of the Housed Teachers are over the age of 40.

Summary:
The teacher shortage in California is caused by deliberate age and in some cases racial discrimination in School Districts state wide. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Los Angeles Unified School District using teacher jail executed byCalifornia Education Code 44939(c) are deliberately forcing veteran teachers out of the profession.
The teacher shortage in California is also caused by the use of Peer Assistance and Review (codified in California Education Code 44500) to drive high salaried, highly educated, and veteran teachers out of the profession. The idea that teachers referred to PAR suddenly forgot how to teach is absurd on its face. Veteran teachers are lifelong learners and work constantly to maintain their content knowledge and pedagogy.
The financial motive for these policies is clear.1. For every maxed out salaried teacher that is removed, employers save a huge premium on salaries and benefits. 2. These policies weaken the institutional memory of school sites and force teachers in to retirement before they are fully vested in the system. 3. The precision of these polices are clear and the effects have been devastating. It is no wonder that teacher preparation programs in the state are in a heavy state of decline. In a profession where bullying, harassment, and the anti teacher narrative dominate the education debate, the honor of the profession has been tainted to a large degree. I challenge the recipients of this communication to re examine and amend their report to probe for age discrimination and cost cutting as the cause for the California Teacher Shortage. Having survived the horrid process of Peer Assistance and Review myself, and being forced into early retirement, I can speak on these issues with much authority.
Valerie Trahan
Masters Degree in Education
Harvard University
March 4, 2016


Valerie Trahan
2045 Emerson St Lower
Berkeley, CA
Retired Teacher
Masters in Education; Harvard University
510-689-6123


To:  Dr.Linda Darling Hammond; Professor Emeritus Stanford University; (indadh@suse.stanford.edu)
 Dr. Louis Freedberg; University California at Berkeley  (lfreedberg@edsource.org)
Dr. Bill Koski; Stanford University; (bkoski@law.stanford.edu)


SUBJECT: A QUANTITATIVE AND STATISTICAL STUDY ON CALIFORNIA TEACHER SHORTAGES AND AGE DISCRIMINATION


Query: Is the California Teacher Shortage caused by an intentional age discrimination policy?

Subject Area 1: Referrals to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for Discipline

Subject Area 2: Referrals to Peer Assistance and Review (PAR)

Subject Area 3: Los Angeles Unified School District Teacher Jail; Housed Teachers


This letter is in direct response to the Legislative Analyst Office Report on teacher shortages. This report was reported to media on March 1st, 2016.

http://edsource.org/2016/debate-surfaces-over-how-much-state-action-needed-to-ease-teacher-shortages/95302



1.The data used for this query was taken from Public Records Requests. The data acquired from the CTC is teachers referred for discipline between January of 2003 to August of 2014. On the list, their are 3771 teachers. We do not know why these teachers were referred or the disposition of their cases. However, we can do an empirical analysis and measure the probability that the demographics referred due to random or non random events. As a benchmark we will use the Biddle method(http://www.biddle.com/documents/twostats.htm). Utilizing the 1 Z proportion test or the binomial distribution test to measure the likelihood of the observed event. Methodology: I will perform the which is a recognized methodology to measure expected results vs. observed results. The also measures the actual standard deviation and whether the standard deviation meets the legal threshold for a prima facie case of discrimination. The 1 Z Proportion Test shows 6.54 standard deviations for teachers referred to the CTC over the age of 56. According to Biddle, (http://www.biddle.com/documents/twostats.htm) two to three standard deviations is used in Disparate Impact Cases and 5 Standard Deviations for Disparate Treatment Cases. I will use these recognized metrics for my

Our next test to probe discriminatory findings is the Heads or Tails Binomial Distribution Test. This test is also recognized to measure statistical discrimination as recognized by judicial courts. For the CTC Analysis (see attached) The heads or tails binomial distribution test shows 0.00 probability of a random event. This also is for teachers referred to the CTC for discipline over the age of 56.
2. Peer Assistance and Review. PAR is a popular teacher remediation program supported by School Districts and Unions to “improve teacher performance”. However, as you will see, persons referred to PAR have high degrees of education, thousands of hours of professional development, are above 50 years of age, and not coincidently the highest salaried teachers. We will begin with data on Los Angeles Unified School District’s use of PAR.
2A. Peer Assistance and Review Los Angeles Unified School District
2B and 2C Combined-Peer Assistance and Review San Francisco Unified School District and Oakland Unified School District
2C-1 Oakland Unified School District PAR- Binomial Distribution age 56 and over
3A. Teacher Jail Housed Teachers-Los Angeles Unified School District

Objective Findings:
1.The data from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing shows a bias towards persons over the age of 56 not explained by random events.
2A. The data regarding PAR from Los Angeles Unified School District shows racial discrimination towards African American Teachers and teachers over the age of 56. Again the numbers are not explained by random events, and suggest Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact Discrimination.
2B and 2C. The data from San Francisco and Oakland Unified School District shows a bias towards teachers over the age of 56.
2C-1. The data from Oakland Unified School Districts use of Peer Assistance and Review in particular shows intentional age discrimination and not a chance of a random event.
3A. The data from Los Angeles Unified School District regarding “Teacher Jail” or Housed Teachers shows a massive age bias of teachers over the age of 40. In this query 93% of the Housed Teachers are over the age of 40.

Summary:
The teacher shortage in California is caused by deliberate age and in some cases racial discrimination in School Districts state wide. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Los Angeles Unified School District using teacher jail executed byCalifornia Education Code 44939(c) are deliberately forcing veteran teachers out of the profession.
The teacher shortage in California is also caused by the use of Peer Assistance and Review (codified in California Education Code 44500) to drive high salaried, highly educated, and veteran teachers out of the profession. The idea that teachers referred to PAR suddenly forgot how to teach is absurd on its face. Veteran teachers are lifelong learners and work constantly to maintain their content knowledge and pedagogy.
The financial motive for these policies is clear.1. For every maxed out salaried teacher that is removed, employers save a huge premium on salaries and benefits. 2. These policies weaken the institutional memory of school sites and force teachers in to retirement before they are fully vested in the system. 3. The precision of these polices are clear and the effects have been devastating. It is no wonder that teacher preparation programs in the state are in a heavy state of decline. In a profession where bullying, harassment, and the anti teacher narrative dominate the education debate, the honor of the profession has been tainted to a large degree. I challenge the recipients of this communication to re examine and amend their report to probe for age discrimination and cost cutting as the cause for the California Teacher Shortage. Having survived the horrid process of Peer Assistance and Review myself, and being forced into early retirement, I can speak on these issues with much authority.
Valerie Trahan
Masters Degree in Education
Harvard University