Signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an annual teacher and principal evaluation program.

Highlights:

• Establishes an annual teacher and principal evaluation program that assigns an effectiveness rating to teachers and principals based on a student performance category and a teacher observation category (Part EE).

• Specifies that the student performance category is based on the results of a state-created test or a student growth score determined by the Education Commissioner (Part EE).

• Authorizes a school district to locally select another state-created test or growth score to determine the student performance category (Part EE).

• Specifies that the teacher observation category is based on classroom observations performed by a principal or trained administrator and observations performed by a trained, impartial, and independent evaluator (Part EE).

• Requires the Education Commissioner to determine the weights and scoring ranges for the evaluation, based on the following ratings (Part EE):
• Highly Effective (H);
• Effective (E);
• Developing (D); and
• Ineffective (I).

• Requires the school district to use the results of the evaluation for certain employment decisions, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding promotion, retention, tenure, termination, and supplemental compensation (Part EE).

• Authorizes a school district to bring charges of incompetency against a teacher or principal who receives 2 consecutive ineffective ratings (Part EE).

• Requires a teacher or principle charged with incompetency to request a hearing within 10 days of receiving the charges (Part EE).

• Authorizes the school district to terminate or suspend the teacher or principal, unless he or she proves by clear and convincing evidence that an evaluation is fraudulent (Part EE).

• Prohibits a school district that does not implement the evaluation program from receiving an increase in annual funds (Part EE).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an annual teacher and principal evaluation program.

Highlights:

• Establishes an annual teacher and principal evaluation program that assigns an effectiveness rating to teachers and principals based on a student performance category and a teacher observation category (Part EE).

• Specifies that the student performance category is based on the results of a state-created test or a student growth score determined by the Education Commissioner (Part EE).

• Authorizes a school district to locally select another state-created test or growth score to determine the student performance category (Part EE).

• Specifies that the teacher observation category is based on classroom observations performed by a principal or trained administrator and observations performed by a trained, impartial, and independent evaluator (Part EE).

• Requires the Education Commissioner to determine the weights and scoring ranges for the evaluation, based on the following ratings (Part EE):
• Highly Effective (H);
• Effective (E);
• Developing (D); and
• Ineffective (I).

• Requires the school district to use the results of the evaluation for certain employment decisions, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding promotion, retention, tenure, termination, and supplemental compensation (Part EE).

• Authorizes a school district to bring charges of incompetency against a teacher or principal who receives 2 consecutive ineffective ratings (Part EE).

• Requires a teacher or principle charged with incompetency to request a hearing within 10 days of receiving the charges (Part EE).

• Authorizes the school district to terminate or suspend the teacher or principal, unless he or she proves by clear and convincing evidence that an evaluation is fraudulent (Part EE).

• Prohibits a school district that does not implement the evaluation program from receiving an increase in annual funds (Part EE).

Full Bill Text