Overhaul of teacher contracts, evaluations heads to House

Credit: BOB BROWN/TIMES-DISPATCH

Virginia Secretary of Education Laura Fornash spoke in support of the contract legislation sponsored by Del. Richard P. Bell, R-Staunton.

By: Olympia Meola | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: February 08, 2012

RICHMOND, Va. --

A sweeping overhaul of the contract and evaluation process for the state's public school teachers and principals is heading to the full House of Delegates.

The House Education Committee this morning advanced the bill 13-8.

The measure, backed by the McDonnell administration, would extend to five years the probation period of teachers and principals before they receive a three-year contract. Employees would have annual evaluations, and at the end of the three-year term contract they would not automatically be renewed.

Teachers working under a continuing contract — roughly 90 percent of the 100,000 public school teachers in the state — would retain that contract and, under a change made this morning, would keep it even if they moved to a different school division. A previous version would have required that teachers on continuing contracts switch to term contracts if they left the school division.

Opponents say the new system would demoralize current teachers, turn off new ones and discourage candor and creativity in the teaching ranks.

Supporters say it will ensure students have highly effective leaders and educators, and raise rigor.

Amid weeks of work with education groups, the original proposal has undergone significant alterations. It was introduced as a system that would move teachers to an annual contract and evaluation system.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Read more in tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

Overhaul of teacher contracts, evaluations heads to House

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