NEW YORK – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week issued an ultimatum to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew: agree on a new teacher evaluation system or the state will impose one.

The Big Apple lost out on a 4 percent increase in state aid – totaling about $250 million – earlier this month when city and union officials failed to agree on a new performance-based teacher evaluation system, the New York Post reports.

After meeting with lawmakers Wednesday, Cuomo said he will propose a law to give the state Education Department authority to develop a teacher evaluation plan for the city if the two sides don’t come to an agreement soon, the Post reports.

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State lawmakers appear supportive of Cuomo’s aggressive stance.

“I think it’s appropriate to put in a system of default,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told the Post.

“I think the (state Education Department) has to step in,” Senate leader Jeff Klein said.

We certainly think it’s about time someone stepped in. From our perspective, Bloomberg wants to increase accountability for teachers to improve educational outcomes for students, and that requires using their performance as part of the evaluations.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew is simply trying his best to avoid increased accountability for teachers, because teachers are arguably the UFT’s top priority, not students.

The problem we see with Cuomo’s ultimatum is that it has little tiny teeth. He didn’t set a timeline for action, aside from saying the city and union must reach an agreement “shortly.” We also wonder whether the governor will be able to get legislation giving the state authority to step in, considering the UFT’s substantial political influence in NYC and Albany.

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However it shakes out, one thing is clear: it’s too late for New York City schools to recover the $250 million they lost out on because of the delays in union negotiations, legislative leaders told the Post.