TRENTON — Decisions on whether to retain teachers and principals should be based on a statewide evaluation system that takes into account the success of their students, according to a task force report released today by Gov. Chris Christie. The New Jersey Educator Effectiveness Task Force, a nine-member board that includes state and national experts along with two union...
While Police and firemen hold a rally outside the State House, Governor Christie, left, along with acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf, right, and Brian Zychowski, center, hold a press conference to announce the release of a report to evaluate teachers and principles performance. TRENTON — Decisions on whether to retain teachers and principals should be based on a statewide evaluation system that takes into account the success of their students, according to a task force report released today by Gov. Chris Christie.
The New Jersey Educator Effectiveness Task Force, a nine-member board that includes state and national experts along with two union representatives, spent the last five months drafting the report.
The state should develop an evaluation system that is based in part on student achievement on standardized tests, along with yet to be developed measures, the report states.
The evaluations should be used when making a decision on whether to retain a teacher or principal, the report said.
The New Jersey Education Association Wednesday issued a statement saying tying performance reviews to standardized test scores could narrow curriculum in schools and reinforce teaching for the sake of passing a test.
Christie noted that only 17 teachers in the past decade have been fired for ineffectiveness.
“That should tell you all you need to know,” Christie said in a morning news conference. “Everybody knows there is more than 17 incompetent teachers in the state of New Jersey.”
Christie said he will seek out stakeholders to get their input on the recommendations in the upcoming months and hopes to get a pilot program running by the fall. He said the complete program would be phased in over the next several years through a combination of legislation and changes in regulation.
Previous coverage:
• NJEA argues teacher evaluation based on student test scores not practical
• NJEA officials warn against N.J. education chief's plan to tie test scores to teacher evaluations
• Acting N.J. education chief proposal links teacher pay, tenure to student performance
• Acting N.J. education chief unveils Christie's plan to reform teacher tenure, introduce merit pay
• Acting N.J. education chief to announce plans for sweeping legislative reform of teacher tenure
• Christie pushes school choice, eliminating teacher tenure during pro-charter school film screening