Identifying Effective Teachers Policy
Hawaii does not connect tenure decisions to evidence of teacher effectiveness.
Teachers in Hawaii are awarded tenure automatically after a two-year probationary period, absent an additional process that evaluates cumulative evidence of teacher effectiveness.
End the automatic awarding of tenure.
The decision to grant tenure should be a deliberate one, based on consideration of a teacher's commitment and actual evidence of classroom effectiveness.
Ensure evidence of effectiveness is the preponderant criterion in tenure decisions.
Hawaii should make evidence of effectiveness, rather than the number of years in the classroom, the most significant factor when determining this leap in professional standing.
Articulate a process for deciding which teachers get tenure.
Hawaii should require a clear process, such as a hearing, to ensure that a teacher's performance is reviewed before making a determination regarding tenure.
Require a longer probationary period.
Hawaii should extend its probationary period, ideally to five years. This would allow for an adequate collection of sufficient data that reflect teacher performance.
Hawaii was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts that enhanced this analysis. The state added that teachers must be rated satisfactory for two years before earning tenure. Hawaii also pointed out that it intends to tie its new performance-based evaluation to an extended three-year process as part of its Race to the Top work.