Assemblymember Pat Burke (D-Buffalo) announced that he helped pass legislation removing the mandate that state-created or administered assessments be used for teacher and principal evaluations, leaving the decision about what evaluation system works best up to local school districts (A.783).

“Educator evaluations should be determined by local school districts, not by politicians in Albany,” Burke said. “State tests aren’t a valid measure of our teachers and don’t fully assess a student’s growth or a teacher’s abilities. I stood up to ensure this system is changed, because our parents, teachers and kids know that there’s more to learning than a state test.”

The bill, which Burke co-sponsored, eliminates the mandate that teacher evaluations be based on how students perform on state-created or administered assessments, including the English Language Arts (ELA) and math tests for grades 3 through 8. Additionally, it prohibits those assessments from being included in a student’s permanent record. The high opt-out rates in Western New York prove that parents don’t believe the current system works or that it’s the best way to ensure their children get a quality education, Burke noted.[1]

“Removing the pressure of high-stakes testing lets our kids learn in a way that works for them,” said Burke. “It allows teachers to concentrate on crafting curriculums tailored to students and lets kids get the most out of their education without the worry that a standardized test result will set back their futures.”

Under the legislation, local school districts and teachers would be able to negotiate an evaluation system that best fits the needs of its students and community, with the option of leaving the current system in place.
_________________________________________

[1] buffalonews.com/2018/09/30/fewer-kids-opt-out-but-boycott-advocates-say-testing-still-flawed