LANSING — State Representative Adam F. Zemke(D-Ann Arbor) expressed appreciation for his colleagues’ approval of House Bills 5223 and 5224 today. The bills, sponsored by Zemke and Rep.Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage), passed the House 95-14 and 96-13, respectively. They now go to the Senate for consideration.

“Today – through research, pilot studies and conversations with educators all over Michigan – evaluations for teachers and administrators become positive, not punitive,” Zemke said. “These bills give us a better tool to improve education for our children.”

HBs 5223 and 5224 set standards for teacher and administrator evaluations that are required by current law. The bills establish straightforward and balanced evaluations to ensure that competent and quality teachers and administrators are educating Michigan’s students. Two years and eight months of discussion among a wide array of stakeholders, including more than 100 teachers and administrators, went into creating and improving the legislation.

“One member of the education community told me today that in his nine years of working on education policy, this is the most bipartisan effort he’s ever seen. I’ve often been criticized for saying that education should be a nonpartisan issue, and today, it is,” Zemke said. “I would like to thank all the education community, and all of my colleagues who read and offered suggestions to improve these bills. We owe so much to those who have spent immeasurable amounts of time to bring these bills to where they are today.”