Students to get a voice on teacher performance under new state law

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

High school students will get a chance to say what they think of their teachers under a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. SB 1422, which was opposed by the California Teachers Assn., allows the student government at high schools to develop a survey of student opinions about their classes and ‘teacher effectiveness.’ Teachers may then circulate the surveys to the students in their classes to get feedback. Under the bill, the survey results would only be shared with the teacher whose class is surveyed: Administrators would not see the surveys and the results would not go into the teachers’ personnel files. Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) said the goal of her bill is to provide a way for teachers to incorporate student feedback into their teaching methods and curriculum. The proposal was the top priority of the California Assn. of Student Councils, she said. ‘The students said. ‘We want a voice in evaluating the people who teach us,’’’ Romero said after the bill was signed Wednesday. Schwarzenegger wants to go further in evaluating teachers, said spokesman Matt Connelly, who added, ‘This bill is a small step in the right direction when it comes to looking at teacher effectiveness in our schools.’’ -- Patrick McGreevy