State lawmakers take another step separating teacher reviews from test results

The New York State Legislature has approved a measure that ends a mandate that teacher evaluations be based on the results of their students’ standardized tests. It’s another step toward ending a 10-year-old bitter fight between teachers and their unions and politicians, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, over the implementation of the controversial Common Core learning standards. Assembly Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto was a teacher for 35 years before running for office. He said he was routinely evaluated by administrators. They observed him in the classroom and checked over his lesson plans. He said that worked until in 2010, the evaluations were taken over by what he calls the “political sphere” and teachers’ performance ratings were more closely tied to results of standardized test scores. He said that led to “chaos and uncertainty.” “It was a terrible thing, what we have done to the teachers of this state,” Benedetto said. “We decide to say to them, ‘We don’t trust you and