State Board Of Regents Chancellor Pushes To Extend Deadline For Teacher Evaluations
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A top New York education official says the state's deadline for new teacher evaluation plans is unrealistic and is directing the Education Department to give districts more time.
Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch wants the current Nov. 15 deadline for having plans approved by the state extended until Sept. 1, 2016, for districts unable to meet it.
Tisch said in a statement Wednesday that she's worried that districts-- and students-- could lose out on state aid tied to the reforms.
"Students should not be denied resources because of adult disagreements," Tisch said in a statement.
As WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported, school districts complain they won't have enough time under the current deadline .
"Our attempt is to just give districts some breathing time and a realistic timeframe in which for them to get the work done," Tisch told WCBS 880.
State Board Of Regents Chancellor Pushes To Extend Deadline For Teacher Evaluations
She has directed the state Education Department to administratively extend the deadline for districts facing hardships meeting it.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's counsel, Alphonso David, says the current law includes a hardship exemption, but says that should be the exception, not the rule.
New teacher evaluations tied more to student tests scores were part of the state budget prescribed by law.
Teachers unions have been rallying against the policy changes and some parents have joined the fight too.
The opt out movement is growing and around 160,000 students have skipped state tests so far.
Those results will be used to rate teachers.
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