Why Bad Teachers Survive

Why bad teachers survive How hard is it to fire an ineffective teacher who has tenure? Very. It's a legal process so cumbersome, so tangled in red tape, that many public school principals don't even try. So the bad teachers survive, penalizing children who deserve better and frustrating the good teachers who inherit students unprepared for the next year's work. Efforts to reform the system haven't gained traction in the Illinois General Assembly. Reform proponents intend to try again this spring. Here's how a typical case in the Chicago Public Schools system proceeds - through as many as 27 steps. A principal decides a teacher's classroom REMEDIATION:1 YEAR Principal notifies performance is "unsatisfactory." State law requires that the principal observe the teacher in the classroom on teacher Remediation Plan evaluations. Principal appoints a "consulting consulting teacher Meeting with tenured teacher and plan is Final remediation meeting. Principal's final evaluation. CASE developed. DISMISSED 1st 2nd 3rd teacher" as to commence Teacher decides to retire, take a buyout offer or quits, ending process. а сoach. remediation plan. "at least two different school days" before making EACH STEP'S TIME FRAME: this determination. 30 days 3 7 days days 90 days 1-10 days PRE-HEARING: ABOUT 4 MONTHS Principal issues final evaluation. Teacher served with notice of charges. ISBE sends list of five hearing officers; only one will be chosen. Either side can reject the panel and ask for another. Hearing officer selected. Teacher fails Teacher can demand a hearing before the Illinois State Board of Schools CEO ISBE notified sets date for of move to suspension assessment - Education and argue with CPS regarding suspension without pay. without pay. CPS files dismiss teacher dismissal charges. and the request for a hearing. DISMISSED Satisfactory . or teacher decides to retire, assessment, take a buyout offer or quits. regains postion. 20 30 days 10 CASE 1 month days days ISBE HEARING: ABOUT 6 MONTHS Transcripts generated and provided to all parties. ISBE hearing officer makes a recommendation to Board of Education decides whether to ISBE hearing Two-day hearing, but may not necessarily be consecutive days. Post-hearing briefs (Closing arguments). Teacher is fired. (Or not.) If the teacher is fired, he or she can appeal to Cook County Circult Court. Chicago Board of Education whether to fire teacher. accept or reject the recommendation. But ... At least 1 month Up to 1month Up to 30 days Within 45 days 30-45 days CASE DISMISSED APPEALS PROCESS: 2-3 YEARS If a judge affirms the board's decision to fire the teacher, The court reviews whether the Board of Education decision was arbitrary, capricious or "against the manifest weight of the evidence" If the Appellate Court upholds the lower court, the teacher can appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the court takes the case, If the Supreme Court rules for the teacher, he or she receives back pay. he or she can appeal to the Illinols Appellate Court. Ruling that typically adds another year to the process. If the Supreme Court rules for the school district, the teacher has no further recourse. 6 months to 1 year Time to ruling: Minimum of1 year Time to ruling: Minimum ofl year TOTAL ELAPSED TIME: 2-5 YEARS SOURCES: Chicago Public Schools contract with 80 Teachers Unilon Ceools Chicago Teachers Union, CPS Law Department. CTU, Tribune reporting At any point in this process, the teacher can retire or – if offered - take a buyout. TRIBUNE Why bad teachers survive How hard is it to fire an ineffective teacher who has tenure? Very. It's a legal process so cumbersome, so tangled in red tape, that many public school principals don't even try. So the bad teachers survive, penalizing children who deserve better and frustrating the good teachers who inherit students unprepared for the next year's work. Efforts to reform the system haven't gained traction in the Illinois General Assembly. Reform proponents intend to try again this spring. Here's how a typical case in the Chicago Public Schools system proceeds - through as many as 27 steps. A principal decides a teacher's classroom REMEDIATION:1 YEAR Principal notifies performance is "unsatisfactory." State law requires that the principal observe the teacher in the classroom on teacher Remediation Plan evaluations. Principal appoints a "consulting consulting teacher Meeting with tenured teacher and plan is Final remediation meeting. Principal's final evaluation. CASE developed. DISMISSED 1st 2nd 3rd teacher" as to commence Teacher decides to retire, take a buyout offer or quits, ending process. а сoach. remediation plan. "at least two different school days" before making EACH STEP'S TIME FRAME: this determination. 30 days 3 7 days days 90 days 1-10 days PRE-HEARING: ABOUT 4 MONTHS Principal issues final evaluation. Teacher served with notice of charges. ISBE sends list of five hearing officers; only one will be chosen. Either side can reject the panel and ask for another. Hearing officer selected. Teacher fails Teacher can demand a hearing before the Illinois State Board of Schools CEO ISBE notified sets date for of move to suspension assessment - Education and argue with CPS regarding suspension without pay. without pay. CPS files dismiss teacher dismissal charges. and the request for a hearing. DISMISSED Satisfactory . or teacher decides to retire, assessment, take a buyout offer or quits. regains postion. 20 30 days 10 CASE 1 month days days ISBE HEARING: ABOUT 6 MONTHS Transcripts generated and provided to all parties. ISBE hearing officer makes a recommendation to Board of Education decides whether to ISBE hearing Two-day hearing, but may not necessarily be consecutive days. Post-hearing briefs (Closing arguments). Teacher is fired. (Or not.) If the teacher is fired, he or she can appeal to Cook County Circult Court. Chicago Board of Education whether to fire teacher. accept or reject the recommendation. But ... At least 1 month Up to 1month Up to 30 days Within 45 days 30-45 days CASE DISMISSED APPEALS PROCESS: 2-3 YEARS If a judge affirms the board's decision to fire the teacher, The court reviews whether the Board of Education decision was arbitrary, capricious or "against the manifest weight of the evidence" If the Appellate Court upholds the lower court, the teacher can appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the court takes the case, If the Supreme Court rules for the teacher, he or she receives back pay. he or she can appeal to the Illinols Appellate Court. Ruling that typically adds another year to the process. If the Supreme Court rules for the school district, the teacher has no further recourse. 6 months to 1 year Time to ruling: Minimum of1 year Time to ruling: Minimum ofl year TOTAL ELAPSED TIME: 2-5 YEARS SOURCES: Chicago Public Schools contract with 80 Teachers Unilon Ceools Chicago Teachers Union, CPS Law Department. CTU, Tribune reporting At any point in this process, the teacher can retire or – if offered - take a buyout. TRIBUNE Why bad teachers survive How hard is it to fire an ineffective teacher who has tenure? Very. It's a legal process so cumbersome, so tangled in red tape, that many public school principals don't even try. So the bad teachers survive, penalizing children who deserve better and frustrating the good teachers who inherit students unprepared for the next year's work. Efforts to reform the system haven't gained traction in the Illinois General Assembly. Reform proponents intend to try again this spring. Here's how a typical case in the Chicago Public Schools system proceeds - through as many as 27 steps. A principal decides a teacher's classroom REMEDIATION:1 YEAR Principal notifies performance is "unsatisfactory." State law requires that the principal observe the teacher in the classroom on teacher Remediation Plan evaluations. Principal appoints a "consulting consulting teacher Meeting with tenured teacher and plan is Final remediation meeting. Principal's final evaluation. CASE developed. DISMISSED 1st 2nd 3rd teacher" as to commence Teacher decides to retire, take a buyout offer or quits, ending process. а сoach. remediation plan. "at least two different school days" before making EACH STEP'S TIME FRAME: this determination. 30 days 3 7 days days 90 days 1-10 days PRE-HEARING: ABOUT 4 MONTHS Principal issues final evaluation. Teacher served with notice of charges. ISBE sends list of five hearing officers; only one will be chosen. Either side can reject the panel and ask for another. Hearing officer selected. Teacher fails Teacher can demand a hearing before the Illinois State Board of Schools CEO ISBE notified sets date for of move to suspension assessment - Education and argue with CPS regarding suspension without pay. without pay. CPS files dismiss teacher dismissal charges. and the request for a hearing. DISMISSED Satisfactory . or teacher decides to retire, assessment, take a buyout offer or quits. regains postion. 20 30 days 10 CASE 1 month days days ISBE HEARING: ABOUT 6 MONTHS Transcripts generated and provided to all parties. ISBE hearing officer makes a recommendation to Board of Education decides whether to ISBE hearing Two-day hearing, but may not necessarily be consecutive days. Post-hearing briefs (Closing arguments). Teacher is fired. (Or not.) If the teacher is fired, he or she can appeal to Cook County Circult Court. Chicago Board of Education whether to fire teacher. accept or reject the recommendation. But ... At least 1 month Up to 1month Up to 30 days Within 45 days 30-45 days CASE DISMISSED APPEALS PROCESS: 2-3 YEARS If a judge affirms the board's decision to fire the teacher, The court reviews whether the Board of Education decision was arbitrary, capricious or "against the manifest weight of the evidence" If the Appellate Court upholds the lower court, the teacher can appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the court takes the case, If the Supreme Court rules for the teacher, he or she receives back pay. he or she can appeal to the Illinols Appellate Court. Ruling that typically adds another year to the process. If the Supreme Court rules for the school district, the teacher has no further recourse. 6 months to 1 year Time to ruling: Minimum of1 year Time to ruling: Minimum ofl year TOTAL ELAPSED TIME: 2-5 YEARS SOURCES: Chicago Public Schools contract with 80 Teachers Unilon Ceools Chicago Teachers Union, CPS Law Department. CTU, Tribune reporting At any point in this process, the teacher can retire or – if offered - take a buyout. TRIBUNE Why bad teachers survive How hard is it to fire an ineffective teacher who has tenure? Very. It's a legal process so cumbersome, so tangled in red tape, that many public school principals don't even try. So the bad teachers survive, penalizing children who deserve better and frustrating the good teachers who inherit students unprepared for the next year's work. Efforts to reform the system haven't gained traction in the Illinois General Assembly. Reform proponents intend to try again this spring. Here's how a typical case in the Chicago Public Schools system proceeds - through as many as 27 steps. A principal decides a teacher's classroom REMEDIATION:1 YEAR Principal notifies performance is "unsatisfactory." State law requires that the principal observe the teacher in the classroom on teacher Remediation Plan evaluations. Principal appoints a "consulting consulting teacher Meeting with tenured teacher and plan is Final remediation meeting. Principal's final evaluation. CASE developed. DISMISSED 1st 2nd 3rd teacher" as to commence Teacher decides to retire, take a buyout offer or quits, ending process. а сoach. remediation plan. "at least two different school days" before making EACH STEP'S TIME FRAME: this determination. 30 days 3 7 days days 90 days 1-10 days PRE-HEARING: ABOUT 4 MONTHS Principal issues final evaluation. Teacher served with notice of charges. ISBE sends list of five hearing officers; only one will be chosen. Either side can reject the panel and ask for another. Hearing officer selected. Teacher fails Teacher can demand a hearing before the Illinois State Board of Schools CEO ISBE notified sets date for of move to suspension assessment - Education and argue with CPS regarding suspension without pay. without pay. CPS files dismiss teacher dismissal charges. and the request for a hearing. DISMISSED Satisfactory . or teacher decides to retire, assessment, take a buyout offer or quits. regains postion. 20 30 days 10 CASE 1 month days days ISBE HEARING: ABOUT 6 MONTHS Transcripts generated and provided to all parties. ISBE hearing officer makes a recommendation to Board of Education decides whether to ISBE hearing Two-day hearing, but may not necessarily be consecutive days. Post-hearing briefs (Closing arguments). Teacher is fired. (Or not.) If the teacher is fired, he or she can appeal to Cook County Circult Court. Chicago Board of Education whether to fire teacher. accept or reject the recommendation. But ... At least 1 month Up to 1month Up to 30 days Within 45 days 30-45 days CASE DISMISSED APPEALS PROCESS: 2-3 YEARS If a judge affirms the board's decision to fire the teacher, The court reviews whether the Board of Education decision was arbitrary, capricious or "against the manifest weight of the evidence" If the Appellate Court upholds the lower court, the teacher can appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the court takes the case, If the Supreme Court rules for the teacher, he or she receives back pay. he or she can appeal to the Illinols Appellate Court. Ruling that typically adds another year to the process. If the Supreme Court rules for the school district, the teacher has no further recourse. 6 months to 1 year Time to ruling: Minimum of1 year Time to ruling: Minimum ofl year TOTAL ELAPSED TIME: 2-5 YEARS SOURCES: Chicago Public Schools contract with 80 Teachers Unilon Ceools Chicago Teachers Union, CPS Law Department. CTU, Tribune reporting At any point in this process, the teacher can retire or – if offered - take a buyout. TRIBUNE Why bad teachers survive How hard is it to fire an ineffective teacher who has tenure? Very. It's a legal process so cumbersome, so tangled in red tape, that many public school principals don't even try. So the bad teachers survive, penalizing children who deserve better and frustrating the good teachers who inherit students unprepared for the next year's work. Efforts to reform the system haven't gained traction in the Illinois General Assembly. Reform proponents intend to try again this spring. Here's how a typical case in the Chicago Public Schools system proceeds - through as many as 27 steps. A principal decides a teacher's classroom REMEDIATION:1 YEAR Principal notifies performance is "unsatisfactory." State law requires that the principal observe the teacher in the classroom on teacher Remediation Plan evaluations. Principal appoints a "consulting consulting teacher Meeting with tenured teacher and plan is Final remediation meeting. Principal's final evaluation. CASE developed. DISMISSED 1st 2nd 3rd teacher" as to commence Teacher decides to retire, take a buyout offer or quits, ending process. а сoach. remediation plan. "at least two different school days" before making EACH STEP'S TIME FRAME: this determination. 30 days 3 7 days days 90 days 1-10 days PRE-HEARING: ABOUT 4 MONTHS Principal issues final evaluation. Teacher served with notice of charges. ISBE sends list of five hearing officers; only one will be chosen. Either side can reject the panel and ask for another. Hearing officer selected. Teacher fails Teacher can demand a hearing before the Illinois State Board of Schools CEO ISBE notified sets date for of move to suspension assessment - Education and argue with CPS regarding suspension without pay. without pay. CPS files dismiss teacher dismissal charges. and the request for a hearing. DISMISSED Satisfactory . or teacher decides to retire, assessment, take a buyout offer or quits. regains postion. 20 30 days 10 CASE 1 month days days ISBE HEARING: ABOUT 6 MONTHS Transcripts generated and provided to all parties. ISBE hearing officer makes a recommendation to Board of Education decides whether to ISBE hearing Two-day hearing, but may not necessarily be consecutive days. Post-hearing briefs (Closing arguments). Teacher is fired. (Or not.) If the teacher is fired, he or she can appeal to Cook County Circult Court. Chicago Board of Education whether to fire teacher. accept or reject the recommendation. But ... At least 1 month Up to 1month Up to 30 days Within 45 days 30-45 days CASE DISMISSED APPEALS PROCESS: 2-3 YEARS If a judge affirms the board's decision to fire the teacher, The court reviews whether the Board of Education decision was arbitrary, capricious or "against the manifest weight of the evidence" If the Appellate Court upholds the lower court, the teacher can appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the court takes the case, If the Supreme Court rules for the teacher, he or she receives back pay. he or she can appeal to the Illinols Appellate Court. Ruling that typically adds another year to the process. If the Supreme Court rules for the school district, the teacher has no further recourse. 6 months to 1 year Time to ruling: Minimum of1 year Time to ruling: Minimum ofl year TOTAL ELAPSED TIME: 2-5 YEARS SOURCES: Chicago Public Schools contract with 80 Teachers Unilon Ceools Chicago Teachers Union, CPS Law Department. CTU, Tribune reporting At any point in this process, the teacher can retire or – if offered - take a buyout. TRIBUNE