Most Minnesota School Districts Ready For Teacher Evaluations

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Most of Minnesota's school districts are ready to implement new teacher evaluations this fall.

But it's unclear if all 333 districts will meet the deadline because some are still developing plans.

In 2011, lawmakers revamped Minnesota's teacher evaluation law to overhaul the old system, in which some teachers went a decade or longer without receiving proper feedback. Under the new law, new teachers will be given formal evaluations each year for three years.

Denise Specht, president of the state teachers union Education Minnesota, says about ¼ of schools are still working on plans.

Tyler Livingston, educator evaluation specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education, says the department, the state teachers union and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators are helping districts.