Bethany Bump is reporting in the Times Union the state Board of Regents adopted new rules Tue., Jun. 14, that give school districts a bit of a break on conducting teacher and principal evaluations. Under the new rules, any district experiencing trouble finding independent evaluators to conduct those reviews can apply to the New York State Education Department for a newly created hardship waiver. The waiver would only require independent evaluators for those teachers and principals rated ineffective the previous year. The concession comes as state legislators debate whether to remove a financial penalty for districts that do not fully implement the new requirements by Sept. 1. To receive a hardship waiver, districts must submit a plan for conducting observations and school visits by the building principal, supervisor or other trained administrators. Districts must also submit a plan for conducting independent observations and school visits for teachers and principals rated ineffective. Read the full story in the Times Union.