New York State Evaluation System
On April 12, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2019, which amends Education Law §3012-d, which revised the requirements for educator evaluation plans approved by the Department after April 12, 2019. For additional information regarding these statutory changes, please see the Department’s June field memo.
As a result, at its May 2020 meeting, the Board of Regents adopted permanent regulations to implement the changes to the evaluation system. A copy of the Board of Regents Item and regulations are available on the Board of Regents website.
Where practicable, existing requirements for teacher and principal evaluations are carried over in their entirety. For the required subcomponent of the student performance category for building principals, as an alternative to SLOs, building principals may be evaluated based on an input model process using evidence of principal practice that promotes student growth related to the Leadership Standards. This option is now also available for the optional subcomponent of the student performance category. Additionally, a new section was added to the Department’s regulations that allows for school districts and BOCES to submit a variance request to implement new and innovative approaches to educator evaluation so long as such approaches are consistent with Education Law §3012-d. Pages three through ten of the Board of Regents Item includes a summary of the key changes.
Status of Current Educator Evaluation Plans and Next Steps
Although the Board’s regulations take effect immediately, until your school district or BOCES receives approval from the Department of a new educator evaluation plan consistent with the requirements of Education Law §3012-d as amended by Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2019, you must continue to implement your currently approved educator evaluation plan. During this time, school districts and BOCES must continue to implement all the measures in their approved educator evaluation plans, including any SLOs based on teacher and course-specific results; principal and building-specific results; school- or program-wide group, team, or linked results; or district- or BOCES-wide results.