New law changing teacher evaluations in New York State

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---In New York State, student test scores were mandated to be used in annual teacher evaluations. A new law signed by Governor Hochul on Friday is changing that.

"No longer will they be required to use student test scores or student performance measures in the evaluation of teachers," explained Melinda Person, President of New York State United Teachers.

The legislation has widespread support. Education advocates believe this will be beneficial to both students and teachers. 

"There is a desire to move away from this excessive focus on testing and back to some of the joy of learning and teaching and the experience of being in school, particularly post COVID," said Senator Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate Education Committee.

School districts across the state will be given more of a say in how their teachers are assessed.

"In the law, it requires the use of observations, which makes a lot of sense," said Person. "The principal comes into your classroom and gives you feedback on your teaching."

Person said other measures such as peer review could also be used. The New York State Education Department will have to approve the teacher evaluation plans that school districts come up with. 

"Over the next period of years, 8 years, districts can move to their own negotiated system of determining which teachers need help, what the kind of help is, and how they should be evaluated," said Mayer. "And parents will have the opportunity to see the results of recent evaluations of their children’s teachers."