Not Now, Ma! 


Signaling the sensitivity of making even modest changes in how California runs public schools, the State Board of Education on Wednesday delayed action on an unusual request from San Jose Unified School District and its teachers union to change the length of probation for new teachers.
The request faced staunch opposition from the statewide teachers union, a powerful player in Sacramento, and a lack of support from the state Department of Education.
State board members worried about the implications of any vote with a lawsuit, unrelated to San Jose's request, hanging over their heads. That suit, known as Vergara vs. California, challenges teacher tenure, layoffs and dismissal.
Instead, the board indicated it would reconsider the waiver request in May, when the trial presumably will have wrapped up.
San Jose Unified sought flexibility to grant teachers tenure after one year, or to keep a teacher on probation for three years. Current state law requires public schools to either grant teachers tenure after two years or terminate them after the second year.
San Jose Unified officials argued that two years -- especially since districts must put together their case midway through a teacher's second year -- sometimes doesn't allow time to fairly evaluate a Change teachers' tenure? California State Board of Education says 'not now' to San Jose request - ContraCostaTimes.com: