NEW YORK -- A New York state-imposed deadline for school districts to submit a teacher evaluation plan has arrived but New York City remains among the handful of districts that have yet to comply, due to the city and its teachers' union being unable to come to an agreement. No agreement between the city and the union representing 75,000...
The deadline for school districts to submit a teacher evaluation plan has arrived, but New York City remains among the handful of districts that have yet to comply.
NEW YORK -- A New York state-imposed deadline for school districts to submit a teacher evaluation plan has arrived but New York City remains among the handful of districts that have yet to comply, due to the city and its teachers' union being unable to come to an agreement.
No agreement between the city and the union representing 75,000 teachers puts the city school district at risk of losing $450 million in state aid and grants.
Each of the state's nearly 700 school districts was told to submit a plan on how it would evaluate teachers by Jan. 17, but New York City has not yet done so.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday that he is "always hopeful."
"There's always been dialogue," Bloomberg said. "Sometimes it's encouraging, sometimes it isn't. I can't read the tea leaves."
A spokesman for the United Federation of Teachers said Wednesday night that talks are continuing.
Under state law, 20 percent of the ratings must be based on students' growth on state tests. Another 20 percent must be based on local measures and the remaining 60 percent must include classroom observations and can also include parent or student surveys.
The UFT scheduled a meeting of its Delegates Assembly for Thursday to vote on a plan if there is one.
Bloomberg said the yellow school bus strike has not distracted city officials from negotiating an evaluation agreement.
"One thing has nothing to do with another," Bloomberg said.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott added, "I think we can multitask very easily."