State Settles Teacher Accountability Suit

State officials reached a settlement yesterday in a lawsuit brought by United Federation of Teachers over just how accountable teachers could be held for poor student testing scores.

With the new deal, at least 20 percent of a teacher's performance score would be based on students’ progress on state standardized exams, with another 20 percent to be measured using a different, union-backed method for looking at student progress, according to the New York Times Schoolbook blog. The article adds that other criteria, like classroom observations, would account for the other 60 percent of a teacher’s score.

Also, the city and the UFT agreed on a way for teachers to contest a poor rating, says the Times – teachers who receive the lowest rating, "ineffective,” can now get a second opinion by a third party chosen by the union and the Department of Education.

“I am pleased to see that DOE has incorporated into their evaluation process professional growth and development to support teachers, and give them the proper tools to address the challenges they face in the class room,” Prospect Heights Council Member Letitia James said in a statement today. “I believe that this is an important aspect of the evaluation process that can ultimately help both our teachers and the students.”

According to WAMC in Albany, the New York State United Teachers had brought a lawsuit against the State Education Department, alleging that the SED had changed the terms of a May 2010 teacher evaluation law.

WAMC also adds that with the new compromise, the state will now receive the $700 million dollars in federal funds that are part of the Race to the Top program, which were previously in jeopardy over the disagreement.