Nevada to join teacher evaluation project

Nevada has been chosen as one of the states to participate in a project to redesign teacher evaluation systems.

The National Governors Association is running the project. Nevada will join North Carolina, Colorado and the territory of Guam in studying how to best measure teacher effectiveness.

"This is one of the most important projects our state will undertake as a result of the education reform enacted this year," said Gov. Brian Sandoval.

A spokesman for the governors' association said teacher effectiveness has long been a priority for governors. The goal of the policy academy is to develop evaluation systems in order to more constructively assess teacher knowledge "and drive performance management decisions such as compensation, professional development and retention," an association spokesman said.

States will put together teams of gubernatorial advisers, school officials and union leaders to work on the project. The governors' association will provide technical assistance including bringing in national experts.

"The ability of states to identify effective teaching and connect these results to key staffing decisions is critical to ensuring teacher quality," said Dane Linn, head of the association's Education Division.

Funding for the project came through a grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.