Education Commissioner Chris Cerf on NJ’s new pilot program of value-added teacher evaluations:

This week, we are taking an important step toward developing a fair, consistent and learning-centered evaluation system by providing 10 districts across the state with $1.1 million to collaboratively design and implement state-of-the-art educator evaluation systems. This pilot will be a critical step toward launching a statewide initiative in 2012…

It’s time we treat teachers as the professionals that they are. This means equipping them with a fair evaluation system that will honor their achievements and ensure that they have the tools they need as they develop their craft and help all of our students succeed.

The ten districts in the pilot who will receive a grant of $1.1 million are Alexandris, Bergenfield, Elizabeth, Monroe, Ocean City Pemberton Township, Red Bank, Secaucus, West Deptford Township, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional, and Newark (which will be funded through a separate grant).