Ill. Board Proposes New Rules to Evaluate Teachers

Illinois education officials have taken another step toward dramatically overhauling the way principals and teachers are evaluated.

The Illinois State Board of Education on Friday gave preliminary approval to rules that would require that student performance be taken into account when evaluating public school educators.

The rules now go out for public comment, and the board will reconsider them for final approval after the first of the year.

Officials say the change is part of a national trend as more states link educator performance evaluations to how students are doing.

All Illinois schools are making the change under the Performance Evaluation Reform Act signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in 2010. The legislation was the result of discussions between administrators, teachers, legislators and unions.