Subject:
Restore Local Control of APPR Process!
Message:
Dear Legislator,
As your constituent and someone who cares deeply about public education, I strongly urge you to pass S.9054 (Mayer)/A.9849 (Benedetto), which will restore local control of the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) process by allowing school districts and their educators' local unions to collectively bargain a new system that focuses on support for students, educators and school leaders.
The current APPR statute is cumbersome and expensive and has taken precious time and resources from administrators, supervisors, and classroom educators. All agree that changes must be made. NYSUT, together with our educational partners and the State Education Department, is working to make performance reviews professionally constructive, provide more support to students, educators, and building leaders, and return the process to communities around our state.
The current APPR system stems from the federal "Race to the Top" educational program that was enacted in 2009 and is no longer required by federal law.
After receiving input from administrators, educators and their constituencies, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) became law in 2015. Early in the bill's negotiations, the bipartisan consensus was that the federal government should not be involved in educator evaluations. Currently, New York state is performing a task that is not required to receive federal educational funding.
When the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) became law in 2015 — after receiving input from administrators, educators and their constituencies — bipartisan consensus was reached early in the bill's negotiations that the federal government should not be involved in educator evaluation. Currently, New York state is performing a task that is not required to receive federal educational funding.
Accordingly, I urge you to work with your conference and your leadership to pass S.9054 (Mayer)/A.9849 (Benedetto), which will return local control to school districts while ensuring accountability and providing a path to tenure. This is a giant step forward to restore the love of learning and the joy of teaching.
Thank you for your consideration of this critical matter. I look forward to a reply to my email.
Sincerely,
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