NY State Policy: Education Law 3012-c

In May 2010, New York State passed Education Law 3012-c, mandating significant changes to how educators throughout NY State are evaluated and supported. The law is intended to foster teacher development and create more rigorous, fair and accurate assessments of teacher effectiveness than the current Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory evaluation system.

Key features of 3012-c:

• All classroom teachers are evaluated annually on a 4-point rating scale (Highly Effective, Effective, Developing, Ineffective)
• 60% of a teacher’s evaluation is based on measures of teacher practice. Under 3012-c, at least half of this 60% must be based on classroom observations using a research-based rubric of teacher practice; additional measures of teacher practice may include student surveys, parent surveys, and teacher portfolios.
• 40% of a teacher’s evaluation is based on measures of student learning.
• Teachers receive timely and constructive feedback, including individualized improvement plans for teachers who receive a Developing or Ineffective rating.

Since 2010, the NYCDOE has been engaged in pilot work to learn about and refine NYC’s implementation of this evaluation and development model. Visit Teacher Effectiveness in NYC for more background on these pilot initiatives.

While the focus of this website is teacher effectiveness in New York City, it is important to note that 3012-c also requires districts to establish a new, multiple-measures annual performance review process for principals. Education Law 3012-c will take effect in New York City in September 2013.

For more information about Education Law 3012-c, visit the New York State Education Department (NYSED)’s EngageNY website.