All for diversity, unless it costs me my job.
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Should this be filed under FAFO?
A legislative effort to increase the diversity of the state’s teaching corps could weaken job protections for veteran educators, a trade-off that has sparked controversy and drawn opposition from the state’s largest teachers unions.
Under the bill, filed earlier this year, superintendents and principals would gain greater discretion to protect novice teachers during a layoff if they are part of an underrepresented demographic group or qualify for one of several other exemptions, including teaching in a critical shortage area such as math, science, and special education. That, in turn, could jeopardize the job status of some rank-and-file educators who had already reached “professional status,” a designation akin to tenure that is typically granted to teachers after completing three years of service.
Currently, state law generally requires teachers without professional status to be laid off first, albeit with some exceptions, including job performance.
The state’s largest teachers unions are backing a different bill that focuses on expanding and creating initiatives to increase the diversity of the educator workforce and wouldn’t touch state law governing layoffs.
The legislation changing seniority rules is one of the most significant attempts in more than a decade to weaken seniority protections for teachers.
Supporters of the legislation say they are seeking the changes primarily to help districts preserve gains in teacher diversity. Losing those teachers, they say, could be detrimental to students of color in a state where 90 percent of teachers are white.
-
Should this be filed under FAFO?
A legislative effort to increase the diversity of the state’s teaching corps could weaken job protections for veteran educators, a trade-off that has sparked controversy and drawn opposition from the state’s largest teachers unions.
Under the bill, filed earlier this year, superintendents and principals would gain greater discretion to protect novice teachers during a layoff if they are part of an underrepresented demographic group or qualify for one of several other exemptions, including teaching in a critical shortage area such as math, science, and special education. That, in turn, could jeopardize the job status of some rank-and-file educators who had already reached “professional status,” a designation akin to tenure that is typically granted to teachers after completing three years of service.
Currently, state law generally requires teachers without professional status to be laid off first, albeit with some exceptions, including job performance.
The state’s largest teachers unions are backing a different bill that focuses on expanding and creating initiatives to increase the diversity of the educator workforce and wouldn’t touch state law governing layoffs.
The legislation changing seniority rules is one of the most significant attempts in more than a decade to weaken seniority protections for teachers.
Supporters of the legislation say they are seeking the changes primarily to help districts preserve gains in teacher diversity. Losing those teachers, they say, could be detrimental to students of color in a state where 90 percent of teachers are white.
