No Time To Be Timid

The NJEA Finally Acknowledges Theres No Avoiding Reform, But Their Proposals Still Fall Woefully Short Governor Christies Education Reform NJEAs Reform Agenda
Teacher Evaluation Rather than weigh quantifiable measures of student Evaluations will be based on multiple measures of student growth, observation of teaching practice, and use achievement equally to other factors, it should be a small factor if considered at all. Meanwhile, focus should of an approved performance framework. remain on out-of-school factors. 50 percent of teacher evaluations will be based on objective, quantifiable measures of student learning such as standardized tests. Tenure Reform Teachers will be awarded tenure if they are evaluated as Just one additional year of residency is added to tenure effective or highly-effective for three straight years. process, and a teachers effectiveness should not affect their ability to gain tenure. A teacher will lose tenure if they are rated ineffective for one year or partially effective for No matter how ineffective a teacher is, tenure two years. cannot be taken away once it is attained. Teacher Compensation School districts should adopt a compensation policy Teacher compensation should continue to be determined designed to attract and retain effective teachers, simply by years of service and graduate degree especially in the most challenging schools and fields. accumulation.
Teaching in a failing school and teaching in a difficult to staff subject area will be factors that determine a teachers compensation.

Protecting Quality Teachers When teacher layoffs are necessary, they must take into Districts will continue to be required to lay off the most account the effectiveness of teachers rather than be junior educators to protect those with seniority. based solely on seniority, ensuring that New Jersey Decisions will be made with absolutely no consideration public schools retain the best teachers. given to effectiveness which means a superior third-year teacher must be dismissed before a highly ineffective 10th year teacher. Ending Forced Placement

Teachers will no longer be assigned to a school without the mutual consent of the teacher and principal of the school.

Teachers can continue to be assigned to schools whether or not the principal wants them, and regardless of whether the teacher wants to go.

If a principal does not consent, the teacher may continue to receive compensation as they continue to search for a mutually agreeable placement. If such as placement is not found after 12 months, the teacher may be placed on permanent unpaid leave.