Mass. Gov. signs education evaluation bill

BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill into law that will ensure a teacher's evaluated job performance is the main factor considered when a school faces staffing decisions.

Patrick signed the bill into law Friday, just days after it passed in both chambers of the legislature.

In addition to putting a greater emphasis on teacher evaluations and performance during staffing decisions, the new law calls for the creation of a data collection system to assess the effectiveness of evaluations.

Jason Williams, the executive director of education advocacy group Stand for Children Massachusetts, said the governor's signing of the legislation demonstrates the state's commitment to quality education.