The Peru Gazette

From the office of Assemblyman Billy Jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation that would allow school districts to adopt teacher evaluation systems best suited for their community needs (A.10475). This would replace the “one-size fits all” method of using state assessments in the determination of a teacher or principal’s evaluation. The legislation would allow school districts and teachers to negotiate an effective and fair evaluation system to better meet the needs of North Country students.

“Many North Country parents and teachers have expressed concerns about the state’s current system of Annual Professional Performance Review,” said Assemblyman Jones. “Currently there is too much of an emphasis on high-stakes testing and too little of an emphasis on what is proven to educate our youth. An effective teacher is one that motivates and engages all their students in the learning process, not just teaches to the test.”

The measure would end the mandate that state created or administered assessments be used to evaluate a teacher’s or principal’s performance.  The state Commissioner of Education would provide for alternative assessments for districts that choose not to use state assessments.  The bill would also eliminate the use of the state-provided growth model in a teacher or principal’s evaluation. As part of proposal, teachers would be required to have a student learning objective (SLO) as developed by Education Department. The measure would also make permanent the prohibition on ELA or math state assessments recorded in grades three through eight from being included on a student’s permanent record.

“Adopting more holistic measures to evaluate our teachers and educational staff at local schools will help children grow and improve our educational system,” concluded Assemblyman Jones.