SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The state Public Education Department says three-fourths of New Mexico's teachers were rated as effective or higher under a new evaluation system that factors in student achievement. The department sent schools the evaluation results for teachers on Thursday and the agency plans to post statewide information online Friday.
About 16,000 teachers were evaluated under the new system implemented this year by Gov. Susana Martinez's administration. About 54 percent were rated effective, 20 percent were highly effective and 1.5 percent received the highest rating, “exemplary.'' Almost 21 percent were rated “minimally effective'' and 3.4 percent were ineffective, which is the lowest ranking.
Many educators have criticized the evaluation system, saying it places too much emphasis on student performance on standardized tests. Other factors in evaluations include classroom observations of teachers.
