Teacher evaluation bill opposed by all stakeholder groups passes House panel

Over the objections of all three major education stakeholder groups, the House Education Committee today approved a bill altering the teacher evaluation process, Idaho Education News reports. Rep. Steve Harris’ bill, HB 556 , conflicts with recommendations from the governor’s education task force, opponents said, and could be read as requiring a 5-year-old student’s say on whether a kindergarten teacher should get a pay raise or not.

“Student input below middle school – not valid,” Luci Willits, the State Department of Education’s chief of staff, told the committee, reports Idaho EdNews reporter Clark Corbin. “You don’t do it with the little ones. That’s not going to give you the kind of information you need.” Nevertheless, the bill passed the committee and is now headed to the full House. You can read Corbin’s full report here .