American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is angry about U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan鈥檚 statement on the Vergara v. California ruling, and she wants everyone to know.
鈥淵ou added to the polarization,鈥� she said to the secretary. 鈥淎nd teachers across the country are wondering why the secretary of education thinks that stripping them of their due process is the way to help all children succeed.鈥� She goes on to say that the Education Department needs to do better addressing out-of-school factors that affect student achievement and chastises the department for not acting on the recommendations
She cites New Jersey and Connecticut for having 鈥渢ransformed鈥� due process for teachers, without eliminating it.
The move is a little curious because Secretary Duncan鈥檚 statement on the ruling was actually pretty anemic as these things go, and took a typically middle-of-the-road approach. It called on districts and unions to collaborate to write laws that better balance student and adult needs.
鈥淭ogether, we must work to increase public confidence in public education,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his decision presents an opportunity for a progressive state with a tradition of innovation to build a new framework for the teaching profession that protects students鈥� rights to equal educational opportunities while providing teachers the support, respect, and rewarding careers they deserve.鈥�
In , Duncan said that he 鈥渁bsolutely believes in tenure鈥� and due process, but thinks it should take longer than two years to earn.
Let me briefly explain what the Vergara ruling鈥檚 implications actually are for due process. First, the judge stayed the ruling until appeals are settled (and an appeal is certain and has a decent shot at passing), so nothing will change immediately for California teachers. Second, even were elimination of the teacher-dismissal laws upheld, California teachers still would receive the right to hear the charges against them under the state鈥檚 Skelly rights, which apply to all public employees. Finally, we don鈥檛 know yet whether, or how, the state legislature will act to modify due process.
Charles Kerchner, an opinion blogger at edweek.org, and his colleague have suggesting that the ruling shows a clear path forward for the state legislature on due process, the length of time to tenure, and other matters.