Albany, New York – Today, the New York State Education Conference Committee and the New York State Department of Education announced a temporary agreement on legislation to rewrite the state’s poorly designed teacher evaluation system imposed in 2010.
The result of collaborative communication among organizations and state leaders with a deep interest in public education, this proposal was handed over to the Office of the Legislative Education Leader by NYSUT Chancellor Melinda Parson and NYSED Commissioner Betty Rosa. .
Enacted by educators, superintendents, school boards, administrators, parents, and principals, this legislation returns the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) system to local control and focuses on professional development and support. The aim is to create a system to evaluate the responsibility of teachers and principals who , rather than placing too much emphasis on testing.
Education Committee Chairs Sen. Shelley Meyer and Rep. Michael Benedetto congratulated the agreement and pledged to keep an eye on the bill during this year's legislative session.
New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said:
“We have an obligation to students, teachers, parents, and families to work together to develop a comprehensive and sustainable teacher evaluation system that meets the needs of all school communities in our state. We are focused on developing systems of continuous growth and development for teachers and principals that promote quality teaching and learning, enable educators to excel, and enable students to thrive. This proposed legislation is designed with and for the people affected and is intended to achieve that goal.”
NYSUT President Melinda Parson said:
“Teachers welcome fair evaluations designed to help them hone their teaching skills and better serve their students. Returning local control to teacher evaluations gives educators the ability to focus on what matters most in the classroom, So we can put a renewed emphasis on teaching and learning. I want to acknowledge the tremendous collaboration that occurred between the various stakeholder groups that sat down at the table and worked out the details of this nearly 50-page bill. If you value the love of teaching and learning in public schools, if you believe that our educators should be treated like experts, and if you believe that instruction to standardized testing is If you think that’s too much, today is a great day.”
Charles Dedrick, executive director of the New York State Council of Superintendents, said:
“We support a new proposal to reform teacher and principal evaluation systems. The result of the debate: Superintendents generally agree that the current system is a waste of time or worse, and that it actually hurts efforts to improve education and school leadership, and to recruit and retain education professionals. In a November survey, more than four times as many superintendents (44%) said the system currently in place was having a negative rather than a positive impact on improving instruction. (vs. 9%). This proposal would restore local control, eliminate some of the harmful parts of the current system, and give school districts flexibility to negotiate plans that best fit local conditions. is.”
New York State Parent Teacher Association President Helen Hoffman and Executive Director Kyle Berokopitsky said:
“NYS PTA will move from the current flawed and punitive evaluation system to a model that truly supports educators in a meaningful way and recognizes the professionalism and work that teachers and principals do every day in their classrooms and school buildings. We're excited to see the movement ahead. We've been working with the State Department of Education for the past year to develop new systems to support teaching, learning, and most importantly, our students. We're very proud of the work we've done to build this. We look forward to its swift introduction and passage in Congress, and we look forward to its swift introduction and passage in Congress, and we look forward to continuing to work with parents and families to support our children's lives. We know that by supporting and raising awareness, we will realize the potential of every child.”
Kevin Casey, executive director of the New York State Association of School Administrators, said:
“On behalf of our more than 20,000 active members, I am pleased that the debate on the APPR has resulted in legislation to reform the unwieldy liability system that currently exists. My colleagues are working on this overhaul, continuing efforts to implement a system that separates state evaluations from expert evaluations and gives districts, teachers, and principals more flexibility to design local education. It is an evaluation system that will help improve professional practice in our schools.”
Jennifer K. Pyle, executive director of the Five College District Council, said:
“The Council of Five College Districts has the opportunity to work with other ECB partners to develop a meaningful evaluation system that supports educators and focuses on what is best for all schools and students. We are grateful for the commitment and leadership provided by Secretary Rosa and her staff, and for the efforts of Senator Mayer and Representative Benedetto to ensure that all voices are heard. We are grateful. The new system will give districts the flexibility to create systems that promote excellence and opportunity for all students.”
Robert Schneider, executive director of the New York State School Boards Association, said:
“NYSSBA is proud to have worked with our partners in the education community to develop this proposal. We believe this proposal will ultimately better serve our community. , because this proposal would mean a shift in how classroom teachers are evaluated from a state-mandated process to one that districts negotiate locally. The proposal would restore local control over teacher training and allow districts to create processes that take into account their unique circumstances. Additionally, the proposal would allow district leaders to focus more on teacher development and improvement. This is especially important now, given that New York State is facing teacher shortages in certain critical subject areas. At the same time, we must provide executives with the tools they need to improve performance.”
