Education stakeholders in New York have been trying to make changes to the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) of teachers and principals for years.

The APPR, according to teachers, school boards and superintendents, yielded little or no benefit in improving teaching or learning while imposing enormous time demands on school personnel.

In a survey of school superintendents conducted by the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS), a majority of those asked felt that the APPR was a waste of time.

This year, stakeholders got what they wanted: Local control in teacher and principal evaluation procedures, thanks to passage of S.9054/A.9849, sponsored by the education chairs in both legislative houses.

Bob Lowry, deputy director at NYSCOSS, discussed the original APPR and how it has changed with Capital Tonight’s Susan Arbetter.