Relates to the adoption of a statewide teacher and principal evaluation system

2 Co-sponsors

• Joseph A. Griffo
• Susan Serino

BILL NUMBER:S4811A

Title of bill

An act in relation to the adoption of a statewide teacher and principal evaluation system

Purpose

To allow for a longer, more ample, public comment period and report of such comments, which shall be considered in establishing regulations and guidelines to implement a statewide annual teacher and principal evaluation and more time for schools to implement the new system of evaluation.

Summary of provisions

Section one establishes the title of this act as Your Voice, Our Schools Act"

Sections two through six amend section 1 of subpart E of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014 to establish the following:

regulations and guidelines to implement a statewide annual teacher and principal evaluation shall be adopted no later than December 31, 2016

public comments and recommendations regarding the adoption of regulations and guidelines to implement a statewide annual teacher and principal evaluation shall last until December 31, 2015

the State Education Department shall have a link for such public comments and recommendations on its website

the State Education Department shall conduct at least one public forum in each Regents district during the public comment period.

the Commissioner of the Stated Education Department shall report his or her findings of the public comments and recommendations to the Governor and the legislature no later than March 31, 2016

all public schools shall implement the commissioner's approved teacher and principal evaluation system by January 2019.

Section seven states the effective date.

Justification

New York State is home to some of the nation's best schools and finest teachers. In fact, myriad national news outlets recently reported on the outstanding academic success of Kwasi Enin, a resident of Shirley, New York, and a public school student, who has been accepted by the eight Ivy League schools: Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Princeton and Cornell. As evidenced by Mr. Enin's achievement, the overwhelming majority of New York's schools, and dedicated teachers, are making the grade when it comes to ensuring that every child receives a first-class education regardless of their zip code. The "Your Voice, Our Schools Act" is designed to help ensure that New York State remains a leader in education. The Your Voice, Our Schools Act would expand and strengthen the public comment process for individuals to communicate with the State Education Department (SED) and offer their specific feedback on teacher evaluations. The Your Voice, Our Schools Act extends the public comment period for New Yorkers to participate

in shaping teacher evaluations until December 31, 2015. This extension would ensure enough time that public forums could occur within each Regents district, and ensure busy parents, and teachers, many of who teach well into June, have ample opportunity to shape this crucial process, provide greater local control and ensure an evaluation system that is truly fair, comprehensive and does not give undue weight to high-stakes testing. The Your Voice, Our Schools Act further mandates that SED issue a report on all the public comments it receives so this information is not held in secret. Additionally, this act directs SED to display the public comment link on its official website to ensure a more transparent and accountable process, one where the voices of parents and teachers are heard loud and clear and can help shape the teacher evaluation process. Finally, the Your Voice, Our Schools Act allows more time for the new evaluation system to be studied and adopted by the Commissioner and ample time for the schools to implement it.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.