Gov Cuomo Wants New Eval System For NY Educators

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Governor Cuomo is threatening to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in state aid unless educators agree to a new evaluation system.

It's a novel plan for getting bad teachers out of the classroom. Governer Cuomo is threatening to withhold $800million in state aid to seven hundred school districts in an effort to force the teachers unions to agree to a new evaluation system.

The Governor hinted at his new 'get tough' policy in his State of the State speech nearly two weeks ago. But now he is showing some of the cards in his hand. The new budget plan that he will unveil on Tuesday is expected to withhold the badly needed education dollars.

New York city alone could lose about $150-million unless a system for rating teachers, and getting rid of bad ones, is put in place.

"When it comes to transforming education we need to focus on education and we need a real teacher evaluation system," the Governor said.

And the Governor is so intent on fixing the schools that he says he is going to go after the unions.

"I am going to be the Governor of the State of New York and I am also going to be the student lobbyist," he said.

In New York City, the fight over the teacher evaluations between Mayor Bloomberg and the unions has held up $60-million in federal aid to failing schools. The mayor is so furious that last week he threatened to get rid of half of the teachers at thirty-three under performing schools.

"Great teachers make an enormous difference, and ineffective teachers are hurting our children's futures. We cannot allow it," the Mayor said.

CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported that the rating plan that the Governor wants to put in place would have several components, including student performance on achievement tests.

Educators throughout the state would have until December 31 to adopt the new rating system.

Do you think the state's educators are in need of review? Let us know in our comments section below...