Teacher Seniority
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Teaching Profession
Settlement Curbs Seniority-Based Layoffs in L.A.
In a development that could have implications for other school districts, the Los Angeles school board has agreed in a lawsuit settlement to curb its reliance on a strict seniority-based method for laying off teacherst.
School & District Management
UPDATED: Effects of 'Mutual Consent' on Teacher Turnover, Distribution Probed
Over the long haul, mutual-consent teacher policies don't appear to improve the distribution of inexperienced teachers—or the levels of turnover in high-minority schools.
Teaching Profession
Chicago Union Sues to Prevent Layoffs; 'Effectiveness' a Theme
The Chicago Teachers' Union is suing to prevent the school district from laying off hundreds of classroom teachers and instructional "coaches," the Associated Press reports.
School & District Management
Layoffs: Seniority vs. Effectiveness
Differences in which teachers get cut under a seniority-based layoff system compared with one based on teacher effectiveness are large and persistent, a new analysis of the New York City teaching corps finds.
Teaching Profession
Chicago's New Union Head Attacks Layoff Policy
Here's an important story from the Chicago Sun Times: The district has just approved a policy for laying off teachers that would dismiss tenured teachers rated "ineffective" before dipping into the ranks of higher-rated novices.
School & District Management
Civil Rights Concerns Over Seniority-Based Layoffs
A new analysis asserts that high-poverty, high-minority schools stand to lose more teachers through seniority-based layoff policies.
Teaching Profession
L.A. to Lay Off Teachers, as Seniority Questions Mount
Everyone is all a-twitter (ha!) over the Race to the Top Finalists. But there's another approaching phenomenon that has the potential to affect as many teachers as RTTT, if not more: Layoffs.
Teaching Profession
"Last Hired, First Fired" Back in the News
Two big pieces came out last week on "last hired, first fired" layoff policies in school districts, no doubt due to the continuing poor economy and the looming "funding cliff" created by the economic-stimulus legislation.
Teaching Profession
Denver Seeks to End Forced Teacher Placements
Denver, home of the ProComp pay system, "professional development" schools, and two teacher "residency" programs, is now trying to break ground on teacher assignments.
Federal
R.I.'s Race to the Top Plan Tackles Teacher Assignment
In its Race to the Top plan, Rhode Island says that it will direct districts not to allow a student to be taught by more than one year by a teacher deemed "ineffective."
Professional Development
Houston Considers Ending Master's "Pay Bump"
Houston chief Terry Grier considers whether granting pay bumps to teachers who hold master's degrees is cost-effective.
Teaching Profession
UTLA in Favor of Peer-Assistance Programs, Site-Based Hiring
The Los Angeles teachers' union spells out its views in an editorial.
Teaching Profession
Arizona Takes on Seniority
A few weeks back, I mused whether we'd see more state and local action to review seniority provisions, since it seemed like states were doing a lot on evaluation and pay, but not the related issue of seniority. Somehow I missed the action in Arizona.
Teaching Profession
UPDATED: Will Reforms to Seniority Catch On?
Rhode Island Commissioner Deborah Gist has instructed districts to work to eliminate hiring practices based on seniority provisions when the districts' collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal this year. (Hat Tip to Eduwonk.) She wants hiring to be based on performance-based criteria instead.