School districts may have until September 2016 to implement mandated changes to the teacher evaluation system after the New York State Board of Regents declared that the changes couldn’t be put in place by this fall.

The Regents pushed back on the requirement inserted in the state budget at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s insistence that every district must have a finalized plan by Nov. 15. Since the Regents have until the end of June to release final regulations, unions and the local school districts would have only the summer to finalize negotiations on the local components of their teacher evaluation plans and secure state approval.

The Regents’ move to extend the deadline won plaudits from state legislators. Chancellor Merryl Tisch also backed their position, saying extensions should be awarded to any district facing “hardship.” In an April 22 statement, Tisch said, “Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from administrators, teachers and school boards across the state. They’re concerned about the very tight time frame, and they’re right.”

Cuomo’s office acknowledged that the Regents have the power to delay a new system but said “hardships” should be awarded sparingly.