Signed by Governor Bill Haslam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that implements a performance requirement for teacher tenure.

Highlights:

• Requires a teacher to sustain a specified performance effectiveness level on evaluations to achieve and maintain tenure status (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that any teacher who, after acquiring tenure status, receives 2 consecutive years of evaluations demonstrating an overall performance effectiveness level of "below expectations" or "significantly below expectations" may be returned to probationary status (Sec. 8).

• Exempts teachers who acquired tenure prior to July 1, 2011 from being returned to probationary status (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that any teacher who meets all of the following requirements is eligible for tenure (Sec. 7):
• A degree from an approved 4-year college;
• For any career and technical teacher, an amount of training equivalent to a 4-year degree which has been established and licensed by the State Board of Education;
• A valid teacher license, issued by the State Board of Education; 
• Completion of a probationary period of 5 school years or not less than 45 months within the last 7-year period;
• An overall performance effectiveness level of "above expectations" or "significantly above expectations"; and
• Reemployment by the director of schools for service after the probationary period.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes requirements for teachers to receive and maintain tenure.

Highlights:

• Requires a teacher to have completed a probationary period of 5 school years in order to receive tenure (Sec. 7).

• Requires school boards to evaluate teachers, and specifies that each teacher's overall performance level must be rated as "above expectations" or "significantly above expectations" during the last 2 years of the teacher's probationary period in order for the teacher to receive tenure (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that any tenured teacher who receives an overall performance level of "below expectations" or "significantly below expectations" may be returned to probationary status by the director of schools until the teacher has received 2 consecutive years of evaluations showing that the teacher's overall performance level is "above expectations" or "significantly above expectations" (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text