Gov. Rick Snyder has signed the teacher tenure reform legislation into law.
The law's designed to base teacher tenure on merit rather than on seniority. “Making staffing decisions based on merit and performance encourages good teachers to keep doing what they are doing and helps ensure students receive the highest quality education,” Gov. Snyder states. “This long overdue reform will protect outstanding teachers who are enthusiastic about the material and able to connect with students in a way that makes them want to learn.”
Under the new legislation, teachers are placed on a five year probation before qualifying for tenure. During this probation period, teachers can be dismissed at any time if they're not deemed fit to teach.
Once a teacher has reached tenure status, he/she will have to continue to prove his/her worth in the classroom.
Do you think this new law will help improve Michigan's schools? Vote on our poll below.
