Identifying Effective Teachers Policy
Commendably, Colorado has discontinued its policy of automatic tenure. The state now bases the leap in professional standing from probationary to nonprobationary status on evidence of classroom effectiveness.
Probationary teachers in Colorado must earn three consecutive "effective" ratings to become nonprobationary. Veteran, or nonprobationary, teachers who receive two consecutive "ineffective" ratings return to probationary status and have a year to improve or face termination.
Because Colorado's teacher evaluation ratings are centered primarily on evidence of student learning (see Goal 3-B), basing tenure decisions on these evaluation ratings ensures that classroom effectiveness is appropriately considered.
Colorado recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.