The Washington State Senate has passed a bipartisan bill that will give teachers the tools to ensure every child has a high quality education. Senate Bill 5895 would follow an existing state effort to move to a statewide four-tier teacher evaluation system by 2015-16, after eight pilot programs have completed tests of what works best.

Sen. McAuliffe: “Unsatisfactory as level one, level two will be basic, level three proficient and level four distinguished.”

Before 2010, K-12 and Early Learning Committee Chair Rosemary McAuliffe says teachers were given either a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade under a two-tier system. Under the new system, she says both students and teachers will benefit.

Sen. McAuliffe: “Every classroom, every student, should have a highly qualified teacher and with this rating system, it is a continuous rating system for our teachers. They can look at the criteria and know where they’re strong and where they’re weak and how they can improve their instruction.”

The bill passed the Senate on a 46-3 vote.