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AP Exclusive: States weaken teacher tenure rights

Prof. Peabody

Prof. Peabody

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AP Exclusive: States weaken teacher tenure rights

By KIMBERLY HEFLING

The Associated Press

Updated: 12:18 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012

Posted: 12:11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012

WASHINGTON — America's public school teachers are seeing their generations-old tenure protections weakened as states seek flexibility to fire teachers who aren't performing. A few states have essentially nullified tenure protections altogether, according to an analysis being released Wednesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

Other changes:

— In Florida, tenure protections were essentially made null and void with policy changes such as eliminating tenure-like benefits altogether for new teachers, but also spelling out requirements under which all teachers with multiple poor evaluations face dismissal.

— Rhode Island policies say teachers with two years of ineffective evaluations will be dismissed.

— Colorado and Nevada passed laws saying tenure can be taken away after multiple "ineffective" ratings.

— Eleven states now require districts to consider teacher performance when deciding who to let go.

— About half of all states have policies that require classroom effectiveness be considered in teacher evaluations.

— Florida, Indiana and Michigan adopted policies that require performance to be factored in teacher salaries.

AP Exclusive: States weaken teacher tenure rights
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WOW! This is the best news I've heard in a long time. It's what's necessary to get our K thru 12 education back on track. Once any employee realizes they can't be fired unless they literally kill someone on the job, their incentive to do a good job obviously grinds to a screeching halt. What other job in the world is there where your job performance isn't tied to your keeping it? Dumping money at this problem will never work, it hasn't so far. It's nice to see at least some states are coming to their senses.
 
This is a really good development and, aside from funding, it's the lynch pin to improving the public school system. The worst teachers just end up being shuffled around between schools under the tenure system, when really they should be fired. If the States can just get tougher about it, it will mean that lazy teachers will have to pull up their socks to keep their jobs.
 
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