In a vote of 28-to-5, the Education Committee voted tonight to adopt Substitute SB 24 that includes new legislative language that will serve as an alternative for the language originally introduced in the Governor’s Education Bill #24. The new language makes us cautiously optimistic that lawmakers will get reform done right to ensure high-quality education for all students.
However, we must emphasize that it is necessary to temper our cautious optimism with the realism that anything can happen in the 44 days left in this legislative session. Just this evening, the governor’s office released a statement stressing that the legislative process is not over.
The General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Research released its analysis of the Education Committee’s draft language. You can read it here.
Below is an overview of significant changes from the governor’s bill that we have identified in the alternative language. Please stay tuned for more from us in the days ahead. Our advocacy efforts must continue. We ask you to thank your legislators for their responsiveness to your concerns and for the sensitivity they have shown to the complexity of school reform. Please tell them that you appreciate their respect for your insights from the classroom. Please remind them that teachers continue to champion school reform efforts that align with teachers’ View from the Classroom and will close the achievement gap.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES FROM GOVERNOR’S BILL
Substitute SB 24 decouples evaluation, certification and salary schedules
Substitute SB 24 decouples evaluation, certification and salary schedules
The details of how teacher evaluation will be tied to teacher tenure were taken out of the legislative arena and handed over for study to the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC). The Commissioner of Education would be required to work together with PEAC to develop a plan for linking teacher and administrator evaluations to tenure. The Commissioner must submit the plan by January 1, 2013. The plan would have to
(1) define how new performance evaluation levels (below standard, developing, proficient, and exemplary) are related to determinations of effectiveness and ineffectiveness for the purposes of attaining tenure,
(2) develop a process for validating evaluations for the purpose of attaining and losing tenure and obtaining a newly proposed “distinguished educator designation,” and
(3) address issues relating to teachers and administrators who have been identified as ineffective in two or more school districts.
Substitute SB 24 creates a new index for identifying schools and values collective bargaining
The bill creates new performance index scores that would be used to select schools in the commissioner’s network of schools. Any provisions in a turnaround plan that conflicts with an existing collective bargaining agreement would have to be negotiated.
The bill creates new performance index scores that would be used to select schools in the commissioner’s network of schools. Any provisions in a turnaround plan that conflicts with an existing collective bargaining agreement would have to be negotiated.
The substitute bill says local and regional boards of education may negotiate over new salary schedules that align compensation for teachers holding initial or professional teaching certificates as well as other factors, and additional compensation for teachers holding the “distinguished educator designation” who are performing additional responsibilities associated with the designation.
Substitute SB 24 makes teacher dismissal more efficient and effective
Just one arbitrator would be required versus the current system of three. The time it takes to carry out the process would be reduced by 5 days. As is currently the law, the local Board of Education would still have final authority.
Just one arbitrator would be required versus the current system of three. The time it takes to carry out the process would be reduced by 5 days. As is currently the law, the local Board of Education would still have final authority.
Substitute SB 24 is attentive to some master’s degrees
The substitute bill revamps Connecticut’s teacher and school administrator certification system. It eliminates the mid-level provisional certificate, and it creates a system with an initial certificate and a professional certificate.
The substitute bill revamps Connecticut’s teacher and school administrator certification system. It eliminates the mid-level provisional certificate, and it creates a system with an initial certificate and a professional certificate.
The bill requires an applicant for a professional certificate to have a relevant master’s degree rather than merely 30 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree.
The bill also creates a state-issued “distinguished educator designation” for highly qualified and experienced teachers. Additionally, teachers will be required to participate in embedded professional development.
CLOSING NOTE
The bill is now headed to more committees of the legislature. Thank you for your organizing and advocacy for children, teachers, and public schools. Together we do make a difference.
The bill is now headed to more committees of the legislature. Thank you for your organizing and advocacy for children, teachers, and public schools. Together we do make a difference.
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