ALBANY (AP) -- A deal between the state and its largest teachers union on a new system to improve teacher evaluations is expected to be announced soon, two officials close to the talks said Thursday.
The officials say major issues are resolved, but wouldn't disclose details until an announcement later Thursday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
Spokesmen for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state education department and the New York State United Teachers union wouldn't comment. The state and union have been negotiating a statewide standard for tougher evaluations.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew are also working on a system for city schools. Cuomo agreed to help settle conflicts there, including how an appeals process would work.
A major sticking point has been using student test scores in evaluations of 222,000 public school teachers, a purpose for which the tests were never designed.
A deal will fulfill much of a commitment the state made two years ago to enact reforms. It also frees up nearly $1 billion in federal education money that was linked to the reforms. State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. has withheld some aid for districts he said were delaying action on teacher evaluations.
A new Quinnipiac University poll found that 50 percent of voters trust Cuomo more "to protect the interests of New York State public school students." Thirty-eight percent trust the teachers union more. It found that 45 percent of those polled said they approve of the way Cuomo is handling education, while 42 percent disapprove.
Voters also supported merit pay for "outstanding" teachers by 2-to-1. And two-thirds of voters said they support making it easier to fire teachers.
The poll released Thursday surveyed 1,233 voters from last Wednesday through Monday. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
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