Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends teacher tenure policy.

Highlights:

• Requires local school boards to develop policies that delegate reduction in force decisions to the superintendent which he or she will use when dismissing teachers and other employees at any time a reduction in force is instituted (Sec. 1).

• Requires the superintendent to base all employment related decisions, including dismissal of teachers and administrators, primarily on performance and effectiveness (Sec. 1).

• Limits tenure eligibility to teachers that have been rated “highly effective” for 5 years within a 6-year period starting September 1, 2012 (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a teacher who acquires tenure prior to September 1, 2012, will keep tenure and will be subject to the provisions of this bill (Sec. 3).

• Requires tenure be revoked if a tenured teacher receives an “ineffective” performance rating starting in the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that if a teacher is rated “highly effective” on the quantitative portion of the evaluation and is rated “ineffective” on the observation portion that is submitted by the principal, then the teacher is entitled to a second observation, within 30 days, by a team of 3 chosen by the superintendent and this team may not include the principal (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a school superintendent to terminate the employment of any nontenured teacher after providing written reasons for dismissal, giving the teacher an opportunity to respond within 7 days (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a school superintendent to terminate the employment of a tenured teacher once they have provided the teacher with written and signed charges of any of the following and the teacher has been given an opportunity to respond within 7 days (Sec. 3):
• Poor performance, incompetence, or willful neglect of duty is sufficiently proven by an “ineffective” performance rating;
• Dishonesty;
• A felony offense affecting the public morals; or
• Being a member of or contributing to any group, organization, movement, or corporation that is prohibited from operating in the state of Louisiana.

• Specifies that salaries and pay raises are determined by the following (Sec. 2):
• Performance evaluations;
• Demand in a particular geographic area, subject area, or area of certification; and
• Experience.

• Prohibits a pay raise in the year following an “ineffective” performance rating received by a teacher or an administrator (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that pass a bill that amends teacher tenure policy.

Highlights:

• Requires local school boards to develop policies that delegate reduction in force decisions to the superintendent which he or she will use when dismissing teachers and other employees at any time a reduction in force is instituted (Sec. 1).

• Requires the superintendent to base all employment related decisions, including dismissal of teachers and administrators, primarily on performance and effectiveness (Sec. 1).

• Limits tenure eligibility to teachers that have been rated “highly effective” for 5 years within a 6-year period starting September 1, 2012 (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a teacher who acquires tenure prior to September 1, 2012, will keep tenure and will be subject to the provisions of this bill (Sec. 3).

• Requires tenure be revoked if a tenured teacher receives an “ineffective” performance rating starting in the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that if a teacher is rated “highly effective” on the quantitative portion of the evaluation and is rated “ineffective” on the observation portion that is submitted by the principal, then the teacher is entitled to a second observation, within 30 days, by a team of 3 chosen by the superintendent and this team may not include the principal (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a school superintendent to terminate the employment of any nontenured teacher after providing written reasons for dismissal, giving the teacher an opportunity to respond within 7 days (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a school superintendent to terminate the employment of a tenured teacher once they have provided the teacher with written and signed charges of any of the following and the teacher has been given an opportunity to respond within 7 days (Sec. 3):
• Poor performance, incompetence, or willful neglect of duty is sufficiently proven by an “ineffective” performance rating;
• Dishonesty;
• A felony offense affecting the public morals; or
• Being a member of or contributing to any group, organization, movement, or corporation that is prohibited from operating in the state of Louisiana.

• Specifies that salaries and pay raises are determined by the following (Sec. 2):
• Performance evaluations;
• Demand in a particular geographic area, subject area, or area of certification; and
• Experience.

• Prohibits a pay raise in the year following an “ineffective” performance rating received by a teacher or an administrator (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends teacher tenure and employment policies.

Highlights:

• Requires local school boards to develop policies that delegate reduction in force decisions to the superintendent which he or she will use when dismissing teachers and other employees at any time a reduction in force is instituted  (Sec. 1).

• Requires performance and effectiveness to be the primary means of determining reductions in force by the superintendent (Sec. 1).

• Limits tenure eligibility to teachers that have been rated “highly effective” for 5 consecutive years (Sec. 3).

• Requires tenure be revoked if a tenured teacher receives an “ineffective” performance rating (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a school superintendent to dismiss any nontenured teacher after providing written reasons for dismissal and the teacher has been given an opportunity to respond (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits a school superintendent from dismissing any tenured teacher unless he or she can provide written and signed charges of poor performance as indicated by an “ineffective” performance rating (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text