The Latest: Whitmer signs delay to teacher evaluation change

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on Michigan delaying a change in its teacher evaluation law (all times local):

5:05 p.m.

Michigan will delay a key change in its evaluation system for teachers and schools administrators under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The laws enacted Tuesday will halt, at least for a year, a requirement that student growth and assessment data be given greater weight in educators' year-end performance evaluations. Such information now accounts for 25% of an evaluation but was scheduled to rise to 40% this academic year under a 2015 law.

The change will now be delayed until the 2019-20 school year.

The Democratic governor says test scores are "only one piece of the puzzle and not the whole story."

The legislation is supported by teachers unions, school districts and groups representing administrators. Legislators say Michigan's main standardized test, the M-STEP, does not adequately measure students' learning over time.

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11:50 a.m.

Legislation to delay a key change in Michigan's evaluation system for teachers and school administrators is on the way to the desk of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her expected signature.

The Senate took a final procedural step Tuesday to move the bill forward.

It would halt — at least for a year — a requirement that student growth and assessment data be given greater weight in educators' year-end performance evaluations. Such information now accounts for 25% of an evaluation but is scheduled to rise to 40% this academic year under a 2015 law.

Under the legislation, the change would be delayed until the 2019-20 school year.

Critics have said basing 40% of a teacher's evaluation on standardized testing is flawed.