Regents did it for the race to top money obliged to test scores no evidence or research to support decision

American education historian Diane Ravitch called May 16,2011, a dark day in the history of New York State when the Board of Regents approved the plan to evaluate teachers by students' tests scores. And never mind there isn't any research or evidence to support it. 
"To be fair, they did it for the money. New York won a Race to the Top award, so officials obliged themselves to judge teachers by test scores..."  while  at least only three of 17  Regents disagreed.
"...our State Board of Regents, with only three honorable exceptions, are indifferent to research, evidence, and testimony from highly experienced and successful principals and teachers. Indifferent as well to the harm done to those in their care, both students and teachers: These are not the Regents who were once held in high esteem. I suppose they might say in their defense that everyone else is doing it; or that the federal government thinks it's a good idea; but those are not good reasons to do wrong."