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MIRS BREAKING NEWS: Committee Moves Educator Evaluation Bill To House Floor -- 10:20 a.m. http://www.mirsnews.com/alert.php?alert_id=2103 After months of behind the scenes work and five hearings earlier this year, the House Education Committee finally advanced this morning a bill to outline a system for evaluating teachers in Michigan. The bill, which moved in a 14-2 vote today, was the eighth House version of SB 0103, which passed the Senate in May. But there remain differences between what's in the latest House proposal and what was in the Senate version, championed by Sen. PhilPAVLOV (R-St. Clair). Those differences have helped stalled the legislation previously, both this session and last session. After the vote today, House Education Chair Amanda PRICE (R-Holland) said the biggest change from previous House versions of the legislation was that the new version moves the portion of the evaluation based on student growth and assessment data to 40 percent of the evaluation in the 2018-2019 school year with 50 percent of that percentage based on state assessment data. The other 50 percent of the student growth portion would be based on “multiple research-based” growth measures on alternative assessments that “are rigorous and comparable across schools within the district.” The Senate version of the bill also had 40 percent of the evaluation based on student growth, but it had 40 percent of that number based on state assessments. The legislation also requires the state to develop a list of teacher evaluations that have demonstrated “evidence of efficacy." Also, the state must establish standards for adding evaluation tools to the list and a process for school districts to submit their own evaluation tools for consideration. Asked if the House committee had worked with Pavlov on the latest version of SB 0103, Price responded that lawmakers had worked hard to get an agreement from committee members. “So we're trying to get it through the House and get it to Sen. Pavlov,” Price said. “We haven't had a lot of discussions with him about this version of it. We hope it's something he can accept.” Before the Legislature went on summer break earlier this year, the committee's efforts to move SB 0103 essentially stalled with Pavlov and Gov. Rick SNYDER's administration all weighing in. But today, the panel met for only about six minutes before voting the new bill out. The no votes came from Reps. Tom HOOKER (R-Byron Center) and Ed McBROOM(R-Vulcan). Rep. Pat SOMERVILLE(R-New Boston) abstained. McBroom proposed an amendment this morning that would have kept the portion of the evaluation based on student growth at 25 percent, which it starts at under the bill. McBroom said he felt it wasn't equitable for teachers to have the percentage at 50 percent. “There are so many variables on student growth and success in the classroom,” McBroom argued. McBroom's amendment gained six votes of support. It needed nine to be adopted. Democrats were divided on McBroom's amendment with two voting no, two passing and two voting yes. All of the Democrats on the panel ended up supporting SB 0103 at the end of the meeting. “This is a good bill,” Rep. Adam ZEMKE (D-Ann Arbor), the committee's minority vice chair, said afterward. “We have a bill that resembles a lot of the same tenets we've been advocating for: fairness, good feedback to educators and robust training to make sure the system works” Zemke added, “It's all of the stuff we've been talking about the last two years.” Last session, Zemke and former Rep. Margaret O'BRIEN (R-Portage) championed educator evaluation bills that died in the Senate. Asked if he thinks the new bill can make it through the Senate, Zemke responded, “We'll see. I'm not in the Senate.” The legislation is meant to be the completion of teacher tenure reforms that were enacted in 2011. At that time, the Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness (MCEE) was asked to submit a report on recommendations for evaluations, on which the Legislature was slated to base its new statewide evaluation system. The council issued its recommendations in 2013.

Where are the new teachers? "We are entering a perfect storm. To fulfill the promise of a 21st century education for all students, we need to take steps to ensure that all students have the fully prepared classroom teachers they deserve." - CA educator Michael Towne Young educators: KY pension problems dampen outlook for students, new teachers Young educators are concerned about retirement security too, especially in Kentucky, where a huge pension funding shortfall is threatening the futures of students and educators. Growing charter schools crisis casts cloud over OH Gov Kasich's presidential bid Rigged performance data, shuttered schools, stranded students, overstated attendance, minimal oversight. These are some of the issues swirling around Ohio's 'broken' charter school system. When educators get elected: Meet KS State Senator Anthony Hensley "I've never questioned that this legislative body needs the perspective that can only be brought by someone who's working in public schools." - Kansas State Senator Anthony Hensley Action of the Week Tell lawmakers it's time for tougher standards and accountability for charter schools Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us on Facebook,Twitter and Tumblr.      NEA Board votes Hillary Clinton for primary recommendation   On Saturday, NEA's Board of Directors voted for a primary recommendation of Hillary Clinton for president. After reaching out to 24 presidential candidates (including Republicans, Democrats, Independents and smaller party candidates), only three, O'Malley, Sanders, and Clinton chose to participate in our process. Major factors contributing to the Board's decision were Clinton's positions on: Opportunity for all students, Ending the overuse of standardized testing in the classroom, Fully funding our students' education, and Collective bargaining Hillary believes that educators should actively be involved in decisions affecting public education and their students. That's why she earned NEA's highest honor, the Friend of Education Award, at NEA's 1999 convention and why the NEA Board of Directors has recommended her for the presidential primary. A Clinton recommendation will put us in the best position to advocate for our students and schools. Clinton's commitment to students and her positions on the issues we care most about promises to make her our champion in the White House. Learn more about her record and positions on education. With so much at stake, educators cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. Visit Strong Public Schools to find out more about the recommendation and get involved in the fight to put a champion for students in the White House! Featured Media Share the Charter Crisis graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Hillary Clinton graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter