Teachers unions and some state lawmakers who are opposed to the New Mexico Public Education Department's teacher evaluation system are asking the state Court of Appeals to reconsider its contention that the program is invalid because it violates state laws.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the reconsideration request comes after a state District Court judge last month refused to block Gov. Susana Martinez's administration from continuing to implement a new system for evaluating teachers.
The coalition opposing the evaluation program says the Public Education Department's program that it's attempting to block violates state laws that require school principals to conduct in-class teacher observations, contrary to the Public Education Department's plan, which allows other teachers to do observations.
The group also is challenging Public Education Department's exemption of charter schools from some evaluation rules.
