Dismissal for Poor Performance: Missouri

Analysis of Missouri's policies

In Missouri, tenured teachers who are terminated may appeal multiple times. After receiving written notice of dismissal, the teacher has ten days to file a written request for a hearing, which must take place within 30 days. The teacher may then file an additional appeal with the circuit court and then with the appellate courts. The time frame for these appeals is not addressed by the state.

Missouri does not explicitly make teacher ineffectiveness grounds for dismissal, nor does the state 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 cancellation, which include "physical or mental condition unfitting him to instruct or associate with children; immoral conduct; incompetency, inefficiency or insubordination in line of duty; willful or persistent violation of, or failure to obey, the school laws of the state or the published regulations of the board of education of the school district employing him; excessive or unreasonable absence from performance of duties or conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude."

Citation

Missouri Revised Statute, Title XI, 168.114; 116; 118; 120

Recommendations for Missouri

Specify that classroom ineffectiveness is grounds for dismissal.
Euphemistic terms such as "inefficiency" are ambiguous at best and may be interpreted as concerning dereliction of duty rather than ineffectiveness. Missouri should explicitly make teacher ineffectiveness grounds for dismissal so 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 drag on for years drain resources from school districts and create a disincentive for districts to attempt to terminate poor performers. Therefore, the state 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 be reached within a reasonable time frame. 

Distinguish the process and accompanying due process rights between dismissal for classroom ineffectiveness and dismissal for morality violations, felonies or dereliction of duty.
While 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 impact a teacher's right to practice. Missouri should ensure that appeals related to classroom effectiveness are only decided by those with educational expertise.  

State response to our analysis

Missouri recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.