State officials target new teachers' effectiveness

November 15, 2009 by JOHN HILDEBRAND / john.hildebrand@newsday.com

State school officials are proposing two new assessments - or nearly new - to measure the effectiveness of thousands of fledgling teachers in their classrooms before they become fully licensed.

Under the plan to be announced Monday at an Albany news conference, the first assessment would be administered before teachers could obtain initial state certification. The second assessment would come after teachers had spent two years on the job and would include a look at whether the teachers had raised student test scores.

Teachers would have to pass the second assessment to become permanently certified. About 25,000 teachers obtain certification statewide each year.

Emphasis on classroom

The state's new education commissioner, David Steiner, says that in certifying new teachers, the state wants to put the emphasis on "the work you do in the classroom."

Before they go into effect, the new assessments would require approval by the state's Board of Regents, which sets educational policy.

Ben Ciuffo, an assistant superintendent in the Jericho district, said he would welcome such assessments because "it's the teacher who makes the difference, regardless of the kids' background."

State education officials also are proposing streamlining the certification process and offering cash bonuses to teacher candidates in fields in short supply, such as science and math, if those teachers are willing to work in low-performing schools.

If approved, new assessments would begin in 2013. Details have not yet been worked out, but state officials say that collegiate schools of education initially would be free to pick their own assessments for student-teachers. They might opt for a California assessment that uses video clips of prospective teachers working with students.

Using that method would, in a sense bring New York State full circle. The state used to require teachers to submit videotaped lessons to Albany to become fully certified but began phasing out that requirement in February 2004.

Current rules require new teachers to pass 12 hours of written state licensing exams, covering both general knowledge and teachers' own academic subject areas. To become permanently licensed, teachers also must earn master's degrees.

New York education officials describe upgraded teacher training as crucial in competing with other states for more than $4 billion in federal Race to the Top money, earmarked by President Barack Obama's administration for education innovation.

NY rules a drawback

But Obama aides have suggested that Albany might be at a competitive disadvantage for two reasons: It bans school districts from using test scores in deciding whether teachers qualify for job tenure and also limits the number of charter schools operating statewide.

New York State United Teachers, an influential statewide union that supports those restrictions, said it wants to study the new plan before taking a position.

"We want to make sure it doesn't create barriers to entering the profession," said Carl Korn, a union spokesman.