Lawyers for the New Mexico Public Education Department are set to defend a teacher evaluation system facing a challenge from teachers unions.
Attorneys are scheduled Monday to defend the system before a Santa Fe County judge amid efforts to halt the use of student tests as part of evaluation.
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation are seeking an injunction to halt the use of test scores while their lawsuit against the evaluation system goes through the court system.
The unions say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized. They want the evaluation system tossed.
Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre says the suit a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education to every child.
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