New Mexico’s state education department will now require attendance to be factored into teachers’ performance evaluations. In previous years, districts were allowed to choose between including teachers’ attendance or parent and student surveys to make up 10 percent of the evaluation.
Schools chief Hanna Skandera says the state is now requiring both as it moves toward a more uniform evaluation system. The state says including attendance helps reduce teacher absence, saving money and increasing student learning time. Teachers may miss three days before getting penalized. Absences caused by such factors as military or jury duty, bereavement, religious leave, or professional development won’t be counted.
But school officials say they don’t want teachers to come to work sick.
