New Law Allows Public Disclosure of Teaching Evaluations

6/25/2012 (Updated 11:22:11 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

Public disclosure of teacher evaluation data is now the law in New York State. 

Governor Cuomo signed the new law Monday.

The law requires school districts and BOCES to fully disclose their evaluation results to the public.

It also requires the State Education Department to post data that will allow the public to analyze and compare how schools are performing.

NYSUT is pleased with this piece of legislation.

Members of the teachers' union feel this will eliminate any media frenzy that can come about this kind of information.

"For example, if you go to some restaurants, they have a grading system for how the restaurant is doing.  But, if you notice, they don't put the chef's name on it.  That's kind of what (this law) is going to do.  The media can have information in general, but the parent and teacher will work on collaborating with each other," said NYSUT Regional Staff Director Catherine Klein.

Schools will also be required to notify parents of the final ratings and evaluation scores of their students teachers and principals.