SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A state District Court judge is refusing to block Gov. Susana Martinez's administration from continuing to implement a new system for evaluating teachers. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Judge C. Shannon Baca's order issued Friday says the Public Education Department has authority under state law to impose an evaluation system of its own design.
Many educators are opposed to the evaluation system, and three Democratic legislators joined with a teachers union and educators in seeking a court ruling to block implementation.
Baca disagreed with the plaintiffs' contentions that the department is violating state law by changing the evaluation system without obtaining legislative approval and by exempting charter schools.
