Judge rules NYC can release teacher ratings

NEW YORK – A judge has ruled that New York City's Department of Education can release performance ratings for 12,000 teachers.

Justice Cynthia Kern of Manhattan state Supreme Court issued the ruling Monday. She says releasing the ratings with the teachers' names attached would not be arbitrary or capricious under the law.

The judge denied a petition by the United Federation of Teachers to keep the teachers' names private.

A lawyer for the union argued last month that releasing the data would unfairly subject teachers to public ridicule. The union said it would appeal the decision.

The teacher ratings are based on how well students performed on standardized tests. Five media organizations filed Freedom of Information Law requests for them.