Antonio Villaraigosa: Tough on Teacher Tenure
School districts around the country are toughening standards for grading teachers. And if Antonio Villaraigosa has his way, Los Angeles could be next.
In a speech at a teacher evaluation conference hosted by Education Trust-West on Thursday in Sacramento, the LA mayor advocated for an end of dismissals based only on experience. According to the LA Times, Villaraigosa also proposed doubling of the number of years it takes for teachers to earn tenure, and to link their evaluations with test scores.
Currently, teachers with the most job experience usually have the most job security -- oftentimes, regardless of their effectiveness. The newest teachers are first on the chopping block when layoffs need to be made.
With new evaluations, Villaraigosa said, "we wouldn't have to rely on something as arbitrary as seniority to make important decisions for us." In California, teachers can earn tenure, or permanent job security, in two years. Villaraigosa called for extending the length of time needed to make tenure -- during which it is easier to fire
In a speech at a teacher evaluation conference hosted by Education Trust-West on Thursday in Sacramento, the LA mayor advocated for an end of dismissals based only on experience. According to the LA Times, Villaraigosa also proposed doubling of the number of years it takes for teachers to earn tenure, and to link their evaluations with test scores.
Currently, teachers with the most job experience usually have the most job security -- oftentimes, regardless of their effectiveness. The newest teachers are first on the chopping block when layoffs need to be made.
With new evaluations, Villaraigosa said, "we wouldn't have to rely on something as arbitrary as seniority to make important decisions for us." In California, teachers can earn tenure, or permanent job security, in two years. Villaraigosa called for extending the length of time needed to make tenure -- during which it is easier to fire
