Teacher evaluation moves forward
NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi speaks at Thursday's press conference on teacher evaluations with (left to right) UFT President Michael Mulgrew, State Education Commissioner John King, and Governor Andrew Cuomo. Photo by El-Wise Noisette.
In a groundbreaking settlement that could serve as a national model, NYSUT and state leaders have agreed to a statewide teacher evaluation system that clearly limits the weight of students' standardized test scores; is designed to help all teachers improve; and reinforces collective bargaining as the vehicle for shaping evaluations to meet local needs.
"We believe this agreement is good for students and fair to teachers," NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi said. "It includes two principles we believe are essential. First, a child is more than a standardized test score. While there is a place for standardized testing in teacher evaluations, tests must be used appropriately. Secondly, the purpose of evaluations must be to help all teachers improve and to advance excellence in our profession."
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Iannuzzi, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew and State Education Commissioner John King joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo to announce what the governor called a "historic agreement."
Cuomo said the pact should place New York back on track to receive the millions promised in federal Race to the Top funds.
Commissioner King promised to work with NYSUT and UFT on implementation, and to provide technical support to school districts. Even before the Feb. 16 agreement, many districts and unions had already taken bold steps to negotiate APPR agreements.
Under the governor's budget proposal, SED must approve local APPR plans by Jan. 17, 2013, or districts could lose 2012-13 aid increases.
The statewide agreement largely clarifies and strengthens the state's teacher evalu- ation law crafted with NYSUT's leadership and enacted in 2010. Fully 80 percent of the evaluation specifics must be bargained collectively at the local level; 20 percent is set by the state. The deal creates the basis for settling NYSUT's lawsuit that success- fully challenged regulations conflicting with the 2010 law. It was under appeal by SED.
"Teachers support high standards and accountability for our profession," said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira. "The agreement reinforces how important it is for teachers to have a voice in establishing standards of professional excellence and in developing evaluations they were partners in."
Throughout this process, NYSUT has steadfastly insisted the state had to avoid overuse of student standardized tests. In a statewide print and web ad campaign, the union makes it clear that "A student is more than a test score."
A statewide poll conducted for NYSUT in January found that parents strongly agree: Two-thirds believe there is too much emphasis on state testing in public schools.
"You'll see people around the country looking at our work here in New York state as a model for advancing collective bargaining to effect positive change; requiring appropriate limits on the use of standardized tests; and using teacher evaluations, first and foremost, to help all teachers improve," Iannuzzi said.
VIDEO: Dick Iannuzzi talks to reporters minutes before today's press conference. (Courtesy the Times Union)
Teacher Evaluation At-A-Glance
- Teacher Performance. Sixty percent of a teacher's evaluation will be based on rigorous and nationally recognized measures of teacher performance. A majority of the points will be based on more than one classroom observation by a trained principal or administrator; at least one observation will be unannounced. Procedures and remaining options, which are subject to collective bargaining, could include any or all of the following: evidence of teacher practice through student portfolios or other artifacts, observations by independent trained evaluators, peer classroom observations, and/or student and parent feedback surveys.
- Student Achievement. Forty percent of a teacher's evaluation will be based on student academic achievement, with 20 percent from state tests and 20 percent on a student assessment selected locally through collective bargaining from a list of five options: state tests (using data in a different way than the first 20 percent); third party assessments/tests approved by SED; locally developed tests subject to SED review and approval; schoolwide measures; and student learning objectives.
- Rating System. Teachers will be rated ineffective, developing, effective and highly effective. Those rated ineffective in the 40 points under student achievement could not receive a developing, effective or highly effective score overall. A teacher who receives an ineffective rating must receive support and training to improve; two consecutive ineffective ratings could lead to dismissal. The appeals process must be bargained collectively.
The governor has linked the APPR to any increase in school funding for 2012-13. For districts to be eligible, they must have an SED-approved APPR by Jan. 17, 2013.