What's happening
This bill repeals laws requiring annual performance reviews for teachers and principals in New York State.
Why it matters
Shifts local control. By repealing state-mandated annual performance reviews, the bill returns decision-making power over teacher and principal evaluations to local school districts, potentially allowing for more flexibility and responsiveness to community needs.
Affects teacher job security and accountability. Removing these standardized reviews may impact how teacher effectiveness is assessed, possibly changing the criteria for promotions, tenure decisions, or dismissals, and affecting perceptions of accountability in schools.
Potential impact on education funding. Some state and federal education funding has been tied to compliance with evaluation systems; repealing these requirements could affect eligibility for certain grants or aid unless alternative measures are adopted.
Influences school climate and morale. The annual review system has been criticized for being stressful and sometimes unfair; its repeal may improve educator morale, but also raises questions about how to ensure consistent teacher quality statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Teacher Performance Reviews
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1782
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to repeal section 3012-d of the education law relating to annual performance reviews of teachers and principals; and to repeal section
1 of subpart E of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015 amending the education law relating to annual performance reviews of classroom teachers and building principals relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3012-d of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 2. Section 1 of subpart E of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015 amending the education law relating to annual performance reviews of classroom teachers and building principals is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07621-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to repeal section 3012-d of the education law relating to annual performance reviews of teachers and principals; and to repeal section 1 of subpart E of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015 amending the education law relating to annual performance reviews of classroom teachers and building principals relating thereto
Purpose
To repeal § 3012-d of the education law.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 repeals § 3012-d of the education law.
Section 2 repeals the corresponding section 1 of subpart E of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
Justification
Aside from parents, our professional teachers play a critical role in the personal and academic formation of our children. Teachers instill values essential to good citizenship and impart knowledge, wisdom, and critical thinking skills that are vital to their future success. Highly trained, skilled and experienced educators are doing no less than helping to shape the leaders of tomorrow, and helping to ensure that these young citizens become responsible and active participants of society.
Owing to the weight of this responsibility, it is appropriate that teachers, even more than other professionals, are held to the highest standard of preparation, performance and achievement. However, the review system created in the original legislation, with its over-reliance on standardized testing and almost casual classroom observation, does not adequately take into consideration the special skills and talents that are essential to the successful practice of the teaching craft. Further, it is a disservice to teachers and the students in their charge to design such a system with minimal input from the very stakeholders who are about to be judged.
By repealing those sections of law that seek to create a new review system, it is the goal of this legislation to allow more time and opportunity for all stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussion aimed at creating a more fair and balanced review program. This system must contemplate a significantly reduced reliance on testing that fully takes into account a teacher's special and unique talents, skills, and abilities.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.4895 Referred to Education.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.