Today, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I,Ref-Ballston) joined her Assembly colleagues in passing a bill (A.10475) to amend education law and ban the use of standardized test results in evaluating the performance of teachers and school administrators. The long awaited measure represents a major victory for educators who had voiced significant opposition to the controversial teacher assessment system, and addresses one of the major issues that has prompted families to opt out of standardized testing in recent years.

Since 2015, the results of state assessments have accounted for 50 percent of teachers’ Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR). This system had been met with staunch opposition from educators, teachers unions, interest groups, students and parents who all claim the test results do not provide enough information to adequately evaluate teacher performance. Today’s bill will allow districts to negotiate whether they will use standardized test results in its APPR process, and ensures education administrators will be permitted to craft a more effective evaluation method.

“While standardized testing plays an important role in our education system, it is clear that it is an inadequate method by which to evaluate the performance of our state’s teachers,” said Walsh. “The passage of this bill is a big step forward in fixing this pressing issue, and I look forward to continuing to work with our state’s education professionals to develop a new system that benefits all of New York’s teachers, administrators, students and families.”

Upon its passage of the Senate, the bill will be delivered to Gov. Cuomo for his signature before it is enacted.