Senator Michael Johnston's bill, SB 191 requires all teachers to be evaluated every year. It mandates that districts create new teacher and principal evaluation systems even if they already do evaluations well or recently overhauled their systems. It does this just as the Legislature is forcing districts to slash their budgets, lay off employees, raise class sizes, and freeze salaries – and on top of new content standards, turnaround schools, and the impacts of ESEA reauthorization. The bill relies heavily on student assessment to measure teacher effectiveness. CSAP is on the way out, but there’s no new assessment to replace it – and no money to pay for one. While CSAP will be used a little longer, it’s not the 21st century assessment we need, plus 60% of Colorado teachers do not teach students who take CSAP. The bill burdens districts with the cost of developing a local test to use as one of the multiple teacher effectiveness measurement tools. Teaching is a high-risk profession that requires professionals to be able to work in a supportive environment – without fear of reprisals or capricious decisions by their supervisors. The bill penalizes an experienced teacher with two consecutive years of “demonstrated ineffectiveness” (based partially on student test scores), forcing the teacher back to probationary status without due process. This can happen to teachers at any time in their careers. We want a qualified teacher in every classroom. Fair evaluation and employment procedures are one important aspect of ensuring quality employees. This is why we are saying NOT SO FAST! Let the Governor’s Educator Effectiveness Council – with teacher voices – complete its assignment before we change teacher evaluation or due process in Colorado. AEA opposes Sen. Michael Johnston’s bill and urges its defeat. Join us in opposing SB 191 by signing below.

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