Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
Link to Ineffectiveness: New Jersey makes ineffectiveness explicit grounds for dismissal. If a teacher receives two consecutive ineffective ratings—or year one is partially effective and year two is ineffective—then the superintendent must file a charge of inefficiency. If a teacher is rated partially effective in two consecutive evaluations, or is rated ineffective one year and the following year is rated partially effective, the superintendent may defer filing of charges until after the next summative evaluation. If that employee is not rated effective or highly effective, the superintendent must then file a charge of inefficiency.
Due Process Distinction: New Jersey distinguishes 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.
Appeals Process: New Jersey's appeals process for inefficiency occurs in a timely manner. After receiving a notice of dismissal, teachers have 10 days to respond, unless given an extension for good cause. The commissioner then has five days to determine whether the charges warrant dismissal. If so, the commissioner refers the case to an arbitrator for a hearing. The hearing shall take place within 45 days of an arbitrator being assigned the case, and the arbitrator shall render a decision within 45 days of the hearing. Further, the arbitrator's decision is final and binding and cannot be appealed to the commissioner.
As a result of New Jersey's strong dismissal policies, no recommendations are provided.
New Jersey was helpful in providing NCTQ with the facts necessary for this analysis.
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.