After days of intense negotiation, Governor Andrew Cuomo, state Education Commissioner John King and New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi announced Fri., Feb. 16, the state and NYSUT reached agreement on a new statewide teacher evaluation system. The accord makes the state "a national leader" on the issue, Cuomo said. The agreement provides guidance to local districts for the implementation of a process that makes good on the state's promise to put in place a teacher evaluation system as a condition of its $700 million federal Race to the Top award. Under the plan, teachers will be graded on a scale of 0 to 100 points; 60 percent of the score is based on teacher performance, measured through classroom observation, parent, and student feedback via evaluator or professional development activities. The remaining 40 percent will be awarded based on student performance on state and local exams. Watch the Governor's press conference online.