(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the January 2013 UFT Delegate Assembly).
For a printable version click: Leaflet 2013 January
“A Train Wreck Waiting to Happen!”
New Action’s record on a New Teacher Evaluation System and Teacher Tenure is clear:
January 2010 – New Action/UFT absolutely opposes linking student test scores to teacher evaluation and tenure decisions. … AFT President Weingarten said she believes that standardized test scores and other measures of student performance should be an integral part of the evaluation process. Michael Mulgrew said “Her proposals would require a climate of collaboration and trust that simply does not exist here (in NYC).” We supported that statement.
March 2010 – Where We Stand calls for support and protection of untenured teachers. We also call for no change in tenure laws.
Her [Weingarten’s] proposals [for a teacher evaluation system] would require a climate of collaboration and trust that simply does not exist here. – Michael Mulgrew, January 2010
May 2010 – New Tenure Plan/ You could be Removed (after 2 years) Before the Letters in Your File (after 3 years) opposes the teacher evaluation system just proposed by the Board of Regents, with support from the NYSUT and UFT leaderships. “Two years in a row of “ineffective” ratings could lead to a 60 day termination process- no matter how senior the teacher, no matter how experienced, no matter whether they have tenure.”
January 2011 –“We OPPOSE tying tenure decisions to standardized tests. The negotiations on Race to the top in New York State led to many dangerous concessions.”
Are administrators with little or no teaching experience qualified to evaluate us?”
May 2011 – “New Action rightfully opposed the agreement leading to the Race to the Top legislation. Lifting the cap on charters. Putting in a new teacher evaluation system! And for what? 700 million that won’t prevent budget cuts or stop layoffs.
September 2011 – “No matter what evaluation system is developed tenured teachers can be dismissed after 2 “ineffective” ratings. In a system that is fair and collaborative perhaps a new approach to rating teachers could work. DOES ANYONE believe that we are working in an atmosphere of collegiality?
October 2011 – Danielson and Teacher Evaluation “In the hands of administrators who do not collaborate, this framework becomes a weapon pointed at us… We continue to be extremely concerned. Who is evaluating us and what are their credentials; what is their experience? Will outsiders evaluate? Are administrators with little or no teaching experience qualified to evaluate us?”
We know the DOE violates every agreement. In an evaluation agreement they will violate it as well. Tenured teachers cannot afford to wait and see.
March 2012 – New Evaluation System – Eliminate Tenured Teachers? “Our opinion has not changed. This new evaluation system will lead to an avalanche of ineffective ratings. We know the DOE violates every agreement. In an evaluation agreement they will violate it as well. Tenured teachers cannot afford to wait and see.
If there is no agreement, we must mobilize our membership – the onslaught from the DoE and the media against us will be fierce.
September 2012 – “The DOE shows nothing but bad faith on our current appeals process. 100% of the decisions being overturned is not a process-it is a farce, a cruel hoax. New Action remains deeply concerned about the potential for Bloomberg’s proposals for teacher evaluation system to be a thinly disguised assault on due process rights.”
New Action - UFT 