“Earlier this week, members of the New York State Board of Regents met to discuss changes to the newly-created teacher evaluation system. The process, which has been surrounded by controversy since its introduction, has been slightly altered to allow districts under certain circumstances to delay its implementation. However, the board failed to move on a push by 6 regents to ask the Legislature for a full delay and more substantive changes.

“While this action indicates the Board of Regents is fully aware that the current system is in need of revamping, it is up to us in the Legislature to work with the board and empower it to create the best evaluation system possible.

“With the 2015 Legislative Session now in overtime, it is imperative that we remove political pressure from the agenda-driven leadership and do what’s right for our children and teachers. We need to allow the State Education Department and Board of Regents the flexibility they need by delaying implementation of this system, separating it from school aid and allowing a panel of experts to create a system based on research rather than rhetoric.”