A Santa Fe judge has issued a temporary injunction against New Mexico's teacher evaluation system amid an ongoing legal fight between teachers unions and the state.
State District Judge David Thomson ruled Wednesday that state Public Education Department couldn't use the newly adopted teachers evaluation system to punish or reward teachers until the lawsuit goes to trial in April.
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation sought an injunction while their lawsuit against the evaluation system goes through the court system. They say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized.
Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre says the suit was a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education.
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