Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
Link to Ineffectiveness: Maryland does not explicitly make teacher ineffectiveness grounds for dismissal.
Due Process Distinction: Maryland does not distinguish the due process rights of teachers dismissed for ineffective performance from those facing other charges commonly associated with license revocation, such as a felony and/or morality violations. The process is the same regardless of the grounds for dismissal, which include immorality, misconduct, insubordination, incompetency and willful neglect of duty.
Appeals Process: Maryland's tenured teachers who are terminated may appeal multiple times. After receiving written notice of dismissal,
the teacher has 10 days to file the first appeal to the county board.
The state does not specify a time frame for this hearing, only stating that it
must occur "promptly." The teacher may then file an additional appeal
with the state board within 30 days, as well as a request for reconsideration within 30 days after that decision has been rendered. An additional appeal may be filed with the circuit court.
Specify that classroom ineffectiveness is grounds for dismissal.
Maryland should explicitly make teacher ineffectiveness grounds for dismissal. Doing so will help ensure that districts do not feel they lack the legal basis for terminating consistently poor performers.
Ensure that teachers terminated for poor performance have the opportunity to appeal within a reasonable time frame.
Nonprobationary teachers who are dismissed for any grounds, including ineffectiveness, are entitled to due process. However, cases that remain open over multiple years drain resources from school districts and disincentivize districts from terminating poor performers. Therefore, Maryland must ensure that the opportunity to appeal occurs only once and only at the district level. It is in the best interest of both the teacher and the district that a conclusion is reached within a reasonable time frame.
Distinguish between the process and accompanying due process rights for dismissal for classroom ineffectiveness and dismissal for morality violations, felonies or dereliction of duty.
Although nonprobationary teachers should have due process for any termination, it is important to differentiate between loss of employment and issues with far-reaching consequences that could permanently affect a teacher's right to practice. Maryland should ensure that appeals related to classroom effectiveness are decided only by those with educational expertise.
Maryland recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. The state added that the grounds and procedure for suspension or dismissal of teachers are not limited to incompetency or willful neglect of duty; teachers and principals have the right to appeal an overall rating of ineffective; and its due process procedures do not differentiate between ineffective classroom performance and other grounds for dismissal.
9D: Dismissal
States need to be explicit that teacher ineffectiveness is grounds for dismissal.
Most states have laws on their books that address teacher dismissal; however, until recently these laws were much more likely to consider criminal and moral violations than performance. While many states have amended their dismissal policy to be more explicit about classroom ineffectiveness, some still retain euphemistic terms such as "incompetency," "inefficiency," or "incapacity." These terms are ambiguous at best and may be interpreted as concerning dereliction of duty rather than ineffectiveness. Without laws that clearly state that teacher ineffectiveness is grounds for dismissal, districts may feel they lack the legal basis for terminating consistently poor performers.[1]
Due process must be efficient and expedited. Non-probationary teachers who are dismissed for any grounds, including ineffectiveness, are entitled to due process. However, due process rights that allow for multiple levels of appeal are not fair to teachers, districts and especially students. All parties have a right to have disputes settled quickly. Cases that drag on for years drain resources from school districts and create a disincentive for districts to attempt to terminate teachers for poor performance.[2] Teachers are not well served by such processes either, as they are entitled to final resolution quickly.[3]
Decisions about teachers should be made by those with educational expertise.
Multiple levels of appeal almost invariably involve courts or arbitrators who lack educational expertise. It is not in students' best interest to have the evidence of teachers' effectiveness evaluated by those who are not educators. A teacher's opportunity to appeal should occur at the district level and involve only those with educational expertise. This can be done in a manner that is fair to all parties by including retired teachers or other knowledgeable individuals who are not current district employees.