Ohio Senate OKs Rerouted Teacher Evaluation Bill

Legislation reducing the number of state-mandated evaluations required for well-rated public school teachers has again cleared the Ohio Senate. The proposal passed after being slipped into a fast-moving Senate bill Tuesday as a way around House opposition. It had cleared the GOP-led Senate in December, but it met resistance among some majority Ohio House Republicans. Senate Education Chair Peggy Lehner said she expects similar language will be removed from a midterm budget bill on education that faces a compromise vote later Tuesday. The proposal was prompted by educators' concerns that Ohio's new evaluation rules requiring more classroom observation sessions, reports and conferences are misdirecting district resources. It cuts the frequency of teacher evaluations for educators rated accomplished or skilled.