On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, the State Board of Education approved guidelines which will link student performance to teacher evaluations.  Under the new guidelines, a portion of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on student standardized test scores and student and parent recommendations.  The new evaluation system was developed collaboratively between teachers, administrators, school boards and state officials.  Teachers will have 45 percent of their evaluation tied to student advancement with 22.5 percent based on standardized tests and another 22.5 percent linked to other measures of student performance.  Under Public Act 12-116, teachers will be rated at one of four levels:  exemplary, proficient, developing and below standard beginning July 2013.  Connecticut is the 14th state to tie teacher evaluation to student achievement.