The Line: Martinez Administration Announces Changes In Teacher Evaluations

April 7, 2017 – Governor Martinez announced this week that the Public Education Department will make changes to the state’s controversial teacher evaluation system. Teachers will now be allowed to take six sick days before being penalized in their evaluations. Current teacher contracts allow 10 sick days, but the evaluation system previously penalized teachers for taking more than 3 days off. Student test scores will also count for a lower percentage, 35 instead of 50 percent, in teacher evaluations.

Teachers unions have filed two lawsuits in recent years in an attempt to halt the evaluation system. During this year’s 60-day legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill that would have given teachers the ability to take all of their available sick days without penalty. That legislation was vetoed by Governor Martinez.

Host Gene Grant and this week’s Line opinion panelists react to the latest news on teacher testing and sick leave this week on New Mexico in Focus.

Line Panelists:
Janice Arnold-Jones, former state representative
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR
Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney at Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP
Antoinette Sedillo López, executive director of Enlace Comunitario