In terms of evaluating teachers, Texas needs another year before implementing its new system. The state is seeking to delay use of the new system until fall of 2016. 

According to the Houston Chronicle, the state plans to pilot the new evaluation in 68 districts and charter schools. After a two-year trial period, other districts could adopt the system. 

"Texas joins the majority of states in moving to a new teacher appraisal model, driven in part by the Obama administration's push to grade teachers on students' test scores," the article said. "Rolling out the new methods has proved difficult in some cases, however, as teacher groups resist and problems arise during implementation."

The state's new evaluation will be optional, but Texas Education Agency officials have said they expect districts to base at least 20 percent of a teacher's rating on student performance data. 

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Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor