A few weeks back, I mused whether we鈥檇 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 .
A state law that recently took effect there prohibits seniority or tenure from being considered when teachers are laid off and also does away with 鈥渞ecall rights.鈥�
It would also give districts flexibility to select which teachers鈥� salaries to reduce, rather than applying a general salary reduction.
It isn鈥檛 clear from the local news coverage whether this is part of the state鈥檚 effort to qualify for the Race to the Top, which puts a heavy emphasis on teacher performance. But it does align nicely with the federal initiative. It also comes as a example of the power states have to regulate policies that affect teachers, something that the reminds us about every year.
The local teachers鈥� union complains that the changes were passed by the legislature without any public comment or debate. I鈥檓 not convinced that that argument is going to win a lot of supporters, given that unions themselves have pushed 鈥渕idnight provisions鈥� elsewhere, as with New York鈥檚 tenure law.