Kaminsky Seeks to Force Vote to Cut Link Between Teacher Evaluations & State Aid

(Albany, New York) – Senator Todd Kaminsky is circulating a sign-on petition to force a vote on bi-partisan legislation to sever the link between teacher evaluation plans and state education funding.

“We must protect state funding for Long Island schools and put an end to the reign of Common Core in our classrooms," said Kaminsky.  “All schools will suffer if their state funding is jeopardized -- regardless of who represents them.  Indeed, the bill that I am trying to bring to the floor is sponsored by a Republican legislator.  This is not about party, it is about doing right by our students, and inaction is unacceptable.  We should all demand that our school funding be decoupled from teacher evaluations.”

This bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senator Sue Serino (R-Hyde Park), blocks efforts to link essential state education aid with the implementation of a new teacher evaluation policy.  So far, only 121 out of the nearly 700 school districts in the state have submitted new evaluation plans ahead of the looming September 1, 2016 deadline.  This common sense bill extends the deadline to implement approved teacher and principal evaluation plans to the until at least September 1, 2020, ensuring that these hundreds of districts and thousands of students receive the state funds they need without being required to enact a controversial, untested evaluation system.

Senator Kaminsky has championed many causes on behalf of students, parents, teachers and schools, including changes to Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) and alternate diploma options for students.  He will continue fighting to secure the highest quality education for Long Island’s students.