Dive Brief:

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's education reform plans were tucked within the state's $142 billion budget, leaving many in the state displeased.
• The additions include a stringent accountability system, and the state's teacher union argues that Cuomo's plan failed to take into consideration research or the voices and opinions of parents and district communities.
• While many Democrats were against the new reform measures, they ultimately voted for the budget because it was tied to more school aid.

Dive Insight:

The plan deals with contentious approaches to "failing" schools and teacher evaluations. Under the plan, a teacher whose students do poorly on the state exam will have an evaluation score limited to "developing," which is the second-to-worst score. Many feel this approach pushes the "no excuses" mentality without taking into account where a student is actually coming from. If schools do not have a new evaluation system in place by November 15, they will only get a partial raise in school aid.