Group eyes voter law to put teeth in teacher assessment

[formerlurker]

GROUP EYES VOTER LAW TO PUT "TEETH" IN TEACHER ASSESSMENT

By Kyle Cheney
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, AUG. 2, 2011…..An education advocacy organization plans to mount a drive for a 2012 ballot law that would force schools to prioritize teacher effectiveness over seniority when it comes to hiring, placement, layoff and transfer policies, an effort that appears likely to encounter resistance from teachers unions and a skeptical Patrick administration.

"We believe strongly that to elevate the profession and ensure that all kids have access to great teachers, we need to make sure that decisions made around a teacher's placement are made on assessment of the teacher as a primary factor," Jason Williams, executive director of Stand For Children, told the News Service Tuesday. "We believe it's what's best for kids."

The organization intends to file the 10 signatures required by a Wednesday deadline to begin the process of placing the plan on the 2012 ballot.

http://66.105.150.81/cgi/as_web.exe?REV2011+D+8064646

[FreeBorn]

 

[formerlurker]

Is this makes it to the ballot, it will pass in a landslide.   Of course our Massachusetts legislature is quite famous for ignoring ballot question mandates.