Educational news about Personality development, career guidance, Leadership Skills and more in Edubilla.com ...

Change in school system of New York was included in the new $142 billion budget of states.  The education plan which includes a tougher teacher-evaluation system and a plan for taking over long-struggling schools will be one of the greatest legacies according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The New York State United Teachers union says Cuomo has refused to consider the educational research or listen to parents and educators. The union has gone as far to suggest parents should considering opting their children out of state-mandated exams.

The state budget includes $23.5 billion in funding for schools, not counting some additional funds that will help expand pre-kindergarten programs and a $75 million fund for 27 struggling schools. It also included a multi-part plan Cuomo says will lead to progress in schools but has led to strife with the teacher's union. It also includes changes to tie tenure protections for teachers to their performance on the annual evaluations, which will rely in part on how their students perform on state tests. Teachers who are rated highly would be in line for a state-funded grant of up to $20,000.

Cuomo stated, "We are redesigning, reforming the entire education system, which is a $50 billion industry in the state". The teachers have taken greatest issue with the teacher-evaluation plan. The school districts must negotiate with local teacher unions over how best to implement the evaluation system, which will include a decision on whether to mandate a second round of testing for students. According to Timothy Kremer, executive director of the state School Boards Association, those negotiations are "likely to be testy negotiations in many districts”.