A proposal by the Department of Education to base tenure on classroom performance was met with heavy opposition Thursday by the teacher’s union.

The DOE along with Schools Chancellor Joel Klein have proposed linking tenure to a teacher’s results in the classroom and to student test scores.

Of the 7,000 teachers up for tenure this year, about 700 will be impacted — most of whom are third year teachers.

The change will also only impact some fourth to eighth grade teachers who have been teaching the same grades and subjects for at least two years.

In a letter to teachers, Chancellor Klein said, “Unfortunately, over the years tenure has become an expectation more than an honor. And a loose tenure system isn’t good for anyone — it hurts students,
it disrespects successful teachers, and it leaves those who are not up to the difficult job to struggle.”

Klein also says classroom observations, teacher work products, and professional skills will be considered.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says if the proposal takes shape, the union will likely sue the department.

“We will take all of our legal remedies, right now we have all the paperwork that was sent out, the lawyers are looking at all of this. But it all comes back to the part of, why would you tell people to use broken tests, why aren’t you working with us at the state level, to move this issue forward,” Mulgrew said.

The proposal calls for the top and bottom 15 percent of eligible teachers to be flagged. Principals granting tenure to anyone in the bottom 15 percent or refusing tenure to the top 15, will have to explain their decision.

According to the DOE, 93 percent of teachers who were eligible for tenure last year received it — including teachers with a prior unsatisfactory rating in the classroom.

Source NY1