Bill delinking student test scores and educator evaluations passes

A unified bill to revise educator evaluations was passed on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. The bill passed the Senate 60-0 and in the Assembly 125-6. Next, the bill will be delivered to the governor for his approval or veto.

The bill decouples the mandatory use of state assessments in teacher and principal evaluations. The bill will require (if signed by the governor) the commissioner of education to develop regulations to determine allowable alternate assessments from which a district would use while negotiating their own APPR plan through collective bargaining. Other aspects of the current evaluation system such as the observation component, use of the rating categories, and required use of an independent observer remain in place.

We will continue to provide you updated information on this bill as it progresses  to the governor’s office.