Wed, March 20th 2024 08:25 PM
Submitted by New York United Teachers
Today, the New York State Board of Education and the New York State Department of Education announced a temporary agreement on legislation to rewrite the state's ill-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. .
This legislation, written by educators, superintendents, school boards, administrators, parents, and principals, returns the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) system to local control and focuses on professional development and education. The objective is to create a system to evaluate the responsibilities of teachers and principals. Provide support instead of 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.
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. is focused on developing systems of continuous growth and development for teachers and principals that promote meaningful 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 objective.”
“Teachers welcome fair evaluations designed to help them hone their teaching skills and better serve their students,” said Parson. We can refocus on what matters: teaching and learning. I would like to thank you for your cooperation. If you value the love of teaching and learning in public schools, if you believe that our educators should be treated like professionals, and if you believe that standardization If you think the guidance given to the tests given has gone too far, today is a great day.”
Charles Dedrick, executive director of the New York State Council of Superintendents, said, “We support this new proposal to reform teacher and principal evaluation systems. This is the result of several months of discussions among school leaders, who generally agree that the current system is a waste of time or worse, and that it does not actually improve education or school leadership. , see it as having a negative impact on efforts to recruit and retain education professionals.A November study found that the systems currently in place are having a negative rather than a positive impact on improving instruction. More than four times as many superintendents (44% vs. 9%) said the proposal would restore local control, eliminate some of the harmful parts of the current system, and create a plan that best fits local conditions. It gives school districts flexibility to negotiate.”
New York State Parent Teacher Association President Helen Hoffman and Executive Director Kyle Berokopytsky said, “New York State PTAs need to move away from the current flawed and punitive evaluation system by truly supporting educators in a meaningful way and improving the profession. Recognizing the rhythms of the work that teachers and principals do every day in their classrooms and school buildings. Over the past year, our Education Conference Board members have worked with the state Department of Education to improve teaching, learning, and most importantly We are extremely proud of the work we have done to create a new system of support for our students. We look forward to its swift implementation and passage in Congress, and we look forward to the continued support of parents and families. We know that together we will 'support children and raise awareness', working with educators to realize the potential of every child.”
“On behalf of our more than 20,000 active members, I am pleased to announce that the discussion surrounding the APPR resulted in legislation that would reform the unwieldy liability system that currently exists,” said Kevin Casey, executive director of the New York State Association of School Administrators. I'm happy,” he said. SAANYS and our colleagues on other education conference committees are working on this overhaul, which would separate state assessments from professional assessments and give districts, teachers, and principals more flexibility in designing instruction. We will continue our efforts to introduce a system that will do this. A local assessment system that helps improve professional practice in our schools. ”
Jennifer K. Pyle, executive director of the Five College District Council, said, “The Five College Council is working with other ECB partners to support educators and create meaningful evaluations that focus on: We are pleased to have had the opportunity to develop the system.” Perfect for all schools and students. We are deeply grateful for the commitment and leadership provided by Secretary Rosa and her staff, and for the efforts of Senator Mayer and Congressman Benedetto to ensure all voices are heard. The new system will give districts the flexibility to create systems that promote excellence and opportunity for all students. ”
“New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert Schneider 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 shift the way classroom teachers are evaluated from a state-mandated process to one locally negotiated by school districts. It would restore local control 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 faces teacher shortages in certain critical subject areas. We will create a more collaborative environment for students in our classrooms. At the same time, we must provide executives with the tools they need to improve performance.”
The New York State United Teachers Association is a statewide labor union with approximately 700,000 members in the education, human services, and health care fields. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and the AFL-CIO.