1. By: Renee Wright April 2010

2. Originated around the turn of the century  Prescribed by state statute  In most states granted after a teacher successfully complete three years (probationary period) and received fourth contract.  Objective of tenure is to keep experienced teachers in the classroom.  Tenure teachers can be dismissed with just cause through due process provided in the Fourteenth Amendment.

3. U.S. Supreme Court Case: Board of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth 1972 U.S. Supreme Court Case: Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill 1985

4.  Reform History 1985 Illinois: Teacher Reform Bill 1995-1996 Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona Board of Regents Reform 2000 Georgia: A+ Education Reform Act 2002 U.S.: No Child Left Behind Act 2010 New York City: Teacher Performance Unit 2010 Florida: Veto of Senate Bill 6 2010 Delaware, Ohio, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Louisiana: Reform Efforts in Process 2010 Minnesota: Reform Bill in Process

5.  70% teachers surveyed say tenure is a formality and not linked to performance or quality.  One fourth of teachers surveyed say their recent teacher evaluations were useful and effective. A survey in Chicago public schools showed that 90% of teachers received one of the top two evaluation ratings – superior or excellent,  50% teachers surveyed say they personally know an incompetent tenure teacher.  In Illinois, out of 95,000 tenured teachers, only two are fired each year for poor performance.  It costs approximately $250,000 to fire a tenure teacher.  A recent survey showed that union support by new teachers has grown and over half of the teachers surveyed said unions were “absolutely essential” (only one third said this in 2003).

6.  What is the best way to improve teacher competency and fight the battle of tenure?  Has this become a political issue?  Will it be possible to compromise with teacher unions?