By AP
Oklaohma City, OK – Okla. lawmaker criticizes evaluation system
(Information in the following story is from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A lawmaker says a new teacher evaluation system shirks state law and ignores recommendations from an 18-person commission.
State Representative Ed Cannaday told The Oklahoman the plan approved by the Education Board isn't in the spirit of the law because it adopted multiple evaluation systems and allowed school districts to select between them for implementation this first year.
An education reform package was passed hurriedly to meet the deadline for the state's application to the Race to the Top program. Oklahoma didn't win the competition, but the reforms, including the evaluation system, remained.
The commission was with recommending a statewide system.
State School Superintendent Janet Barresi said the board met the letter of the law regarding the evaluation system and board members gave districts flexibility to make their own decisions.