/teacher-seniority Teacher Seniority en-US 2021 (c) °ÄÃÅÅܹ·ÂÛ̳ Mon, 14 Sep 2020 22:37:30 GMT /teaching-learning/how-covid-19-is-hurting-teacher-diversity/2020/09 Layoffs that are based on seniority can disproportionately affect Black and brown teachers. Mon, 14 Sep 2020 22:37:30 GMT /teaching-learning/how-covid-19-is-hurting-teacher-diversity/2020/09 /teaching-learning/philadelphia-teachers-to-get-raises-after-four-years-without-a-contract/2017/06 But the deal is worth $245 more than the district has budgeted, so some say it could trigger layoffs down the road. Tue, 20 Jun 2017 16:05:39 GMT /teaching-learning/philadelphia-teachers-to-get-raises-after-four-years-without-a-contract/2017/06 /teaching-learning/minnesota-republicans-set-their-sights-on-last-in-first-out-layoffs/2017/03 Lawmakers say they want to give administrators more of a say in which teachers are dismissed during layoffs. Fri, 24 Mar 2017 14:04:16 GMT /teaching-learning/minnesota-republicans-set-their-sights-on-last-in-first-out-layoffs/2017/03 /teaching-learning/minn-teacher-tenure-lawsuit-revived/2017/01 Parents appeal an October ruling that concluded that they hadn't sufficiently linked tenure laws with poor student achievement. Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:26:25 GMT /teaching-learning/minn-teacher-tenure-lawsuit-revived/2017/01 /teaching-learning/seniority-wont-protect-teachers-from-layoffs-in-a-chicago-suburb/2016/12 Teachers working in the affluent North Shore school district in Chicago are facing layoffs based on their job performance, not on seniority. Fri, 09 Dec 2016 23:17:30 GMT /teaching-learning/seniority-wont-protect-teachers-from-layoffs-in-a-chicago-suburb/2016/12 /teaching-learning/buffalo-teachers-ratify-contract-ending-a-12-year-stalemate/2016/10 Ending a 12-year deadlock between the district and union, public school teachers in Buffalo, N.Y., have inked their first new contract since the last one expired in 2004. Thu, 20 Oct 2016 13:30:55 GMT /teaching-learning/buffalo-teachers-ratify-contract-ending-a-12-year-stalemate/2016/10 /teaching-learning/calif-supreme-court-puts-an-end-to-vergara-saga/2016/08 After four years and two copycat lawsuits, the California Supreme Court, by declining to hear an appeal of the Vergara case, hands teachers unions a big victory. Mon, 22 Aug 2016 21:22:11 GMT /teaching-learning/calif-supreme-court-puts-an-end-to-vergara-saga/2016/08 /teaching-learning/pa-governor-vetoes-bill-to-limit-seniority-protections-during-teacher-layoffs/2016/05 The Pennsylvania governor vetoed a GOP-backed bill that would have allowed school boards to base teacher layoffs on teacher evaluation scores rather than seniority. Thu, 19 May 2016 20:07:00 GMT /teaching-learning/pa-governor-vetoes-bill-to-limit-seniority-protections-during-teacher-layoffs/2016/05 /teaching-learning/reactions-to-vergara-reversal-point-to-continuing-battles-equity-concerns/2016/04 Not surprisingly given the history of the case, the new ruling in the Vergara v. California case has been met conflicting reactions—as well as vows on both sides to press for change. Fri, 15 Apr 2016 18:48:22 GMT /teaching-learning/reactions-to-vergara-reversal-point-to-continuing-battles-equity-concerns/2016/04 /teaching-learning/breaking-vergara-ruling-overturned-by-state-appeals-court/2016/04 A California appeals court has reversed the trial court's original ruling in Vergara v. the State of California, the landmark case on teacher job-protection provisions. Thu, 14 Apr 2016 22:20:24 GMT /teaching-learning/breaking-vergara-ruling-overturned-by-state-appeals-court/2016/04 /teaching-learning/judge-lawsuit-targeting-n-y-teacher-tenure-may-continue/2015/03 Unions say they'll appeal a Staten Island judge's decision March 12 to permit a challenge to the state's teacher-employment protections to move forward. Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:31:56 GMT /teaching-learning/judge-lawsuit-targeting-n-y-teacher-tenure-may-continue/2015/03 /teaching-learning/study-novices-often-teach-the-youngest-neediest-students-in-their-schools/2015/02 A new study finds that novice math teachers in a large urban district are more likely to teach the youngest and neediest students in their schools. Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:44:00 GMT /teaching-learning/study-novices-often-teach-the-youngest-neediest-students-in-their-schools/2015/02 /teaching-learning/contested-tenure-pay-law-in-louisiana-upheld-on-appeal/2014/10 The state's supreme court reversed a lower-court ruling, allowing a 2012 revamping tenure and pay rules to stand. Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:14:00 GMT /teaching-learning/contested-tenure-pay-law-in-louisiana-upheld-on-appeal/2014/10 /teaching-learning/opinion-adam-bessie-retiring-the-bad-teacher-boogeyman/2014/06 In essence, the "bad teacher" is a not just a basic strawman, but a hologram, an insubstantial projection of whoever you want him to be, whatever you - or your child - perceives him to be. Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:40:48 GMT /teaching-learning/opinion-adam-bessie-retiring-the-bad-teacher-boogeyman/2014/06 /policy-politics/opinion-vergara-decision-feeds-testing-and-teacher-turnover/2014/06 The Vergara decision feeds into our societal obsession with test scores, and propels us towards schools with even less stability, and higher turnover. Sat, 14 Jun 2014 17:04:34 GMT /policy-politics/opinion-vergara-decision-feeds-testing-and-teacher-turnover/2014/06 /teaching-learning/los-angeles-settlement-on-teacher-layoffs-ducks-the-seniority-question/2014/04 A settlement in Los Angeles over teacher layoffs does not alter the place of seniority in such decisions. Wed, 09 Apr 2014 15:53:00 GMT /teaching-learning/los-angeles-settlement-on-teacher-layoffs-ducks-the-seniority-question/2014/04 /teaching-learning/fate-of-california-teacher-protection-rules-now-in-hands-of-judge/2014/03 Lawyers presented their closing arguments in the fractious Vergara v. California teacher-protection lawsuit. Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:49:00 GMT /teaching-learning/fate-of-california-teacher-protection-rules-now-in-hands-of-judge/2014/03 /teaching-learning/philadelphia-will-skirt-seniority-in-staffing/2014/03 Philadelphia's superintendent has imposed new rules for the upcoming school year that will allow principals to disregard seniority as the sole criteria in hiring and assignment decisions. Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:01:00 GMT /teaching-learning/philadelphia-will-skirt-seniority-in-staffing/2014/03 /teaching-learning/revisions-to-seniority-based-layoffs-eyed-in-newark/2014/02 Newark's Cami Anderson wants the Christie administration to waive the state's reverse-seniority layoff requirements. Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:20:00 GMT /teaching-learning/revisions-to-seniority-based-layoffs-eyed-in-newark/2014/02 /leadership/opinion-john-thompson-as-due-process-for-teachers-is-removed-secret-files-and-blacklists-return/2014/02 Mutual consent began as a part of the assault on seniority and it requires teachers who, through no fault of their own, had to transfer to another school to get approval from the receiving school's principal in order to transfer. Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:00:14 GMT /leadership/opinion-john-thompson-as-due-process-for-teachers-is-removed-secret-files-and-blacklists-return/2014/02 /teaching-learning/contours-of-calif-teacher-protection-suit-take-shape/2014/01 Highlights from opening statements in the Vergara v. California trial. Tue, 28 Jan 2014 05:50:00 GMT /teaching-learning/contours-of-calif-teacher-protection-suit-take-shape/2014/01 /teaching-learning/high-profile-california-lawsuit-on-teacher-protections-begins/2014/01 A pathbreaking and controversial trial on teacher protections begins this week in Los Angeles, with implications for policies on teacher seniority, tenure, and dismissal. Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:30:00 GMT /teaching-learning/high-profile-california-lawsuit-on-teacher-protections-begins/2014/01 /teaching-learning/opinion-california-lawsuit-attacks-teacher-rights/2014/01 California's voters may be overruled by the courts, if reformers Eli Broad and David Welch have their way. These billionaires have funded a new non-profit called Students Matter to fight the battle. The lawsuit claims that students are harmed when their teachers have due process and seniority protections. Sun, 26 Jan 2014 22:26:44 GMT /teaching-learning/opinion-california-lawsuit-attacks-teacher-rights/2014/01 /leadership/opinion-union-led-reform-project-in-california-shares-lessons/2013/11 If you were to think of the key things that you would want to do to support learning at high poverty schools, what would be on your list? Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:39:15 GMT /leadership/opinion-union-led-reform-project-in-california-shares-lessons/2013/11 /teaching-learning/commission-suspends-philadelphia-teacher-staffing-pay-rules/2013/08 Philadelphia plans to suspend some teacher seniority and pay provisions as it rehires staff through a $50 million borrowing scheme. Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:12:00 GMT /teaching-learning/commission-suspends-philadelphia-teacher-staffing-pay-rules/2013/08 /teaching-learning/opinion-alice-mercer-veteran-teachers-not-a-priority-in-high-priority-schools/2013/05 The salient point is that in addition to making these schools a priority, the staffing at these schools underwent a change that now has created swiss-cheese-like holes in our teaching contracts. You see, the schools are allowed to hire teachers outside the district surplus process, and only have to take surplus teachers they want. Open positions at "priority schools" are not on the district's list of available positions at the surplus meeting. They've made a practice of picking up the least senior teachers, and even brand-new hires from outside the district. This has occurred while elementary teachers with up to 7 years of seniority are still out of work. In addition, they are exploiting a little-used provision of the State Education Code saying these teachers have "specialized training" that other teachers lack, and should be "skipped" in layoffs. That has exacerbated the entire lay-off process as teachers at priority schools with less than 5 years of seniority have never gotten a pink-slip, while teachers with up to 8 years of seniority have, and those with seven never returned Tue, 28 May 2013 22:51:34 GMT /teaching-learning/opinion-alice-mercer-veteran-teachers-not-a-priority-in-high-priority-schools/2013/05 /teaching-learning/within-schools-novice-teachers-paired-with-struggling-students/2013/05 Novice and minority teachers tended to be assigned the lowest-achieving students in their schools, according to a new research study. Wed, 01 May 2013 16:06:00 GMT /teaching-learning/within-schools-novice-teachers-paired-with-struggling-students/2013/05 /teaching-learning/r-i-chief-districts-must-end-seniority-hiring-transfer/2013/02 R.I.'s commissioner put districts on notice that hiring and transfer processes contravene state law. Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:21:00 GMT /teaching-learning/r-i-chief-districts-must-end-seniority-hiring-transfer/2013/02 /policy-politics/opinion-teachers-and-parents-natural-allies-in-defending-our-schools/2012/11 Wherever the "reformers" are working to divide us, we need counter campaigns aimed at strengthening our unity. We need to make sure less experienced teachers understand the value of due process, and the reasons we object to "data-driven" evaluations and pay systems. We need to develop social and educational activities that bring generations of teachers together, so they recognize how much they have to learn from one another, and how much better they can be when they support one another and work together. We need serious outreach efforts to communicate with parents, both urban and suburban. Our public schools are community treasures, and they must be guarded by all of us working together. Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:56:37 GMT /policy-politics/opinion-teachers-and-parents-natural-allies-in-defending-our-schools/2012/11 /policy-politics/opinion-john-thompson-baseball-analogies-prone-to-errors/2012/11 Guest post by John Thompson. Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:49:13 GMT /policy-politics/opinion-john-thompson-baseball-analogies-prone-to-errors/2012/11