NYSUT President Melinda Person released the following statement in response to the governor signing into law S9054/A9849, which will fix the onerous Annual Professional Performance Review system 14 years after its enactment.
“Today 700,000 NYSUT members are celebrating a victory that will transform classrooms across New York. After more than a decade-long fight, the state is finally returning teacher and principal evaluations to local control.
This is about restoring the daily joy of teaching and learning, and it is about evaluating our educators like the professionals they are. We thank the governor for signing this law, which rejects a punitive, test-focused model, and embraces the creativity, growth and career development that is vital for healthy schools.
It would not have been possible without the resolute advocacy of our members, our legislative allies and our statewide education partners. Together we raised our voices to make momentous change, and together we will continue to support the essential work of educating the next generation.”
Background:
The current evaluation system was enacted in 2010 and substantially altered in the 2015-16 state budget. That system relies on student performance measures on grades 3-8 English language arts (ELA) and math assessments and a punitive, one-size-fits-all rubric to rate educators.
The new system will allow districts and BOCES to negotiate their own performance review plans with local bargaining units. The plans will not be required to use student performance measures. The plans must be approved by the State Education Department according to multiple measures aligned with state teaching and leadership standards.
Districts and BOCES will have eight years to transition to the new system, which will better serve educators, students, parents, and school communities.
Highlights of the New APPR Law:
What it does: Returns teacher evaluations to local control.
Why it matters: No more one-size-fits-all approach. Allows districts to develop programs that work for them.
What it does: The evaluation process will be determined as part of collective bargaining.
Why it matters: Unions and educators will have a seat at the table when evaluation systems are being determined at the district level.
What it does: Eliminates the requirement that evaluations be tied to student performance metrics, like test scores.
Why it matters: For districts where scores and evaluations are delinked, this means no more teaching to the test. It returns the love of teaching and learning to the classroom.