Relates to performance reviews of classroom teachers and building principals and the comprehensive review of education standards administered by the state department of education

Summary of provisions

Section one: provide for a forty-five day public comment period after the Commissioner publishes in the State register the draft regulations associated with 3012-d of the education

Section two: extends to December fifteenth, 2015 when School Districts are required to have in place an approved Annual Professional Perform- ance Review Plan (APPR) under 3012-d of the Education law.

Section three: requires SED to release by June first annually test ques- tions and corresponding correct answers from the most recent ELA and Math exams in grades three through eight.

Section four: provide $8.4 million in appropriation authority to allow SED to create more exams so that in the future more tests can be returned to teachers.

Section five: requires SED to ensure there are considerations made for student growth scores for teachers who have students that are English

language learners, students in poverty status, students prior academic history, and students with disabilities.

Section six and seven: Requires SED to establish a content review committee to review standardized test items and/or selected passages for use on state exams in grades three through eight.

Section eight: reforms the way in which the State Board of regents are selected.

Section nine: requires the Commissioner to review the common core learn- ing standards (CCLS).

Section ten: provides for the effective date.

Justification

Under current law the Commissioner of Education is required to Submit and the Board of Regents adopt changes made to APPR by June 30th, 2015. This bill provides that the draft regulations shall be submitted prior to June 30th, 2015 and that a forty-five day public comment period shall immediately follow. No later than August 14th, 2015 the State Board of Regents are required to adopt the new regulations associated with 3012-d of the Education law. This will provide more opportunity for the public to weigh in on the actual draft regulations. Consistent with this proposal section two of the bill extends to December fifteenth, 2015 when school Districts are required to have in place an approved Annual Professional Performance Review Plan (APPR).

Section three of this bill intends to improve the learning process by requiring SED to release by June first each year test questions and corresponding correct answers from the most recent ELA and Math exams in grades three through eight back to the teachers in their respective classrooms. In addition, $8.4 million is appropriated to allow SED to create more exams so that in the future more test questions can be returned to teachers.

Section four provides funds for SED to release more standardized exam questions back to the classroom teachers to improve the overall learning process.

Section five of the bill places in education law, consistent with the Commissioner's regulations, a requirement that SED ensure that specific student characteristics are factors in the calculation of teachers student growth scores. Under the Commissioner's current regulations teachers receive adjustments for students that are English language learners, students in poverty status, students prior academic history, and students with disabilities.

Section six and seven requires SED to establish a content review commit- tee to review standardized test items and/or selected passages for use on state exams in grades three through eight to ensure the tests are age

appropriate and time appropriate. The content review committee shall include teachers and educational experts.

Section eight reforms the way in which the State Board of regents are selected.

Section nine requires the Commissioner to review the common core learn- ing standards (CCLS). The review shall examine the implementation of the stands and the reasons for adopting such standards. In addition the Commissioner is directed to make recommendation on how to improve the standards if deemed necessary.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

This bill will provides $8.4 million to the State Education Department.

Effective date

The act shall take effect immediately.