Mayor Under Pressure to Agree on Teacher Evaluations

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio joined parents in front of the Tweed Courthouse on Sunday. (Courtesy of Wiley Norvell)

Catherine Yang

Catherine Yang has been with The Epoch Times in New York since 2008. She also launched and previously served as chief editor of American Essence magazine and Epoch Health.

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February 13, 2012Updated: October 1, 2015

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Epoch Times Photo — Public Advocate Bill de Blasio joined parents in front of the Tweed Courthouse on Sunday. (Courtesy of Wiley Norvell)

NEW YORK—Public Advocate Bill de Blasio gathered with the public school parents of New York City on Sunday at the Tweed Courthouse to urge the Bloomberg Administration to reach an agreement with the teachers union on a teacher evaluation system for 33 schools.

The deadline for the agreement is Feb. 16, as set by Governor Andrew Cuomo, but the delay in reaching the terms could cost the city a hefty price. The negotiations resumed on Jan. 26.

The United Federation of Teachers and the Mayor’s office secured $700 million in Race to the Top funding for this year by agreeing to implement a teacher evaluation system in 2010, and now parents are worried schools will lose that funding as the deadline draws nears.

“It’s time to stop the posturing and reach an agreement that preserves vital funding for our schools,” de Blasio said.