Teacher
and administrator evaluations in Michigan’s schools are the subject of a reform
package that passed the House of Representatives in significantly bipartisan
fashion this week.
House
Bill 5223 and 5224
passed the House 95-14 and 96-13, respectively.
The
two bills are sponsored by Representatives Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage) and
Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) and have been the subject of intense work and
negotiation, including House Education Committee deliberation, for nearly four
months.
Related
legislation also passed the Senate Wednesday, delaying implementation of the
evaluations until the 2015-2016 school year. That measure, sponsored by Senator
John Pappageorge (R-Troy) also reduces the percentage of the evaluation that
must be based on student growth and assessment data from 50 percent to 40
percent.
Although
no official timeline has been given, the Senate is expected to act quickly on
the measures.