After an unprecedented opt-out movement where the state saw hundreds of thousands of children opting out from last year’s exams, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is now changing his mind on the role student test scores should play in evaluating teacher performance.

Widespread anger over standardized testing resulted in Cuomo sponsoring a review of Common Core standards and state assessments, and one anticipated outcome of this review will be the removal of test scores from teacher evaluations, the New York Times said.

"Two members of the Board of Regents, the body that sets state education policy, said they had heard that Mr. Cuomo was pushing for a moratorium on the use of test scores in evaluations. The two board members, Kathleen M. Cashin and Betty A. Rosa, both said they would heartily support such a change,” the Times said.

In January of last year, Cuomo sparked a debate on the role test scores have in determining teacher effectiveness after deciding that up to 50 percent of teacher evaluations would be determined by the scores.

Now, that percentage is likely to be significantly reduced, the Times said.

“The task force itself may recommend decoupling test scores from evaluations or putting in place some kind of moratorium on teacher evaluations, a move that would please many teachers and administrators.”

Indeed, though it’s still unofficial, teachers, administrators and advocacy groups are delighted by this latest news.

Read the full story.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

11/25/2015