How CPS Terminates Teachers
Once city teachers have achieved tenure after three years of service, it can be difficult to remove them. But Chicago Public Schools can dismiss teachers swiftly in their first few years.
Beginning educators are classified as “probationary teachers.” According to the union contract, just before the end of the school year, the principal can notify a probationary teacher that he or she will not be rehired for the following year. Teachers in their first and second years do not have to be given a reason for their release, but third-year probationary teachers do. Once teachers receive notice they will not be rehired by the school, they can look for work at another Chicago school.
In June of 2010, CPS announced that probationary teachers with an unsatisfactory rating or two non-renewals of their contract would be ineligible to be rehired by CPS. The Chicago Teachers Union said it has filed grievances over the board’s refusal to rehire probationary teachers who fall into these categories, and has asked the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board to send the matter to arbitration.
Sara Echevarria, coordinator of the union’s grievance department, said CPS’ move creates the possibility that a teacher who has an issue with just one principal can essentially be banned from the district. The district