Haslam Announces Review of new Teacher Evaluations

House of Representatives

State of Tennessee

Rep. Jim Cobb Special Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Rep. Jim Cobb, R- Spring City) – “As promised, we legislators have worked hard to represent the challenges that teachers are facing through the evaluation process. Below is information from a press release from Governor Haslam on December 21, 2011,” said Rep. Jim Cobb. 

HASLAM ANNOUNCES FORMAL REVIEW OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS

Calls upon independent organization and department to take a closer look

(December 21, 2011, NASHVILLE) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced that there will be both an external and internal review of the new teacher evaluation system. 

He has charged the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) with conducting an independent, third-party evaluation and is asking the state Department of Education to formalize a review process, which the department has already begun. 

Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Rep. John Forgety (R-Athens), along with co-sponsor Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City), are sponsors of a resolution that outlines the review process for the department, which the governor said the administration supports.

“There has been a lot of discussion about teacher evaluations over the past several months,” Haslam said. “As we continue to have conversations with educators, I see a lot of value in reviewing the process both from an external and internal perspective and to compare observation results with student achievement data at the end of the year.

“These evaluations were a critical piece of the Race to the Top initiative, and it is important for Tennessee to maintain strong accountability measures as we build upon our momentum to improve education.  As we work through this first year of implementation, I do not support legislative changes during this session.  It is appropriate to give the process time to work and to learn more about what changes might be necessary.”

Haslam was joined for the announcement in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the Capitol by Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, SCORE president and CEO Jamie Woodson, and key legislators. SCORE’s report will be due to the state Board of Education and Department of Education on June 1, 2012.

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