Understanding Contract Teachers in Education System

WHAT ABOUT CONTRACT TEACHERS? Contract Teachers Beginning July 1, 2018, non-career status teachers may be offered a 1, 2, or 4 year contract. Any teacher who has been employed by the district for less than three years may only receive a one-year contract. G.S. 115C-325.3(a). 1

CONTRACT TEACHERS G.S. 115C-325.3(b)Superintendent Recommendation to Local Board. Local boards of education shall employ teachers upon the recommendation of the superintendent. If a superintendent intends to recommend to the local board of education that a teacher be offered a new or renewed contract, the superintendent shall submit the recommendation to the local board for action and shall include in the recommendation the length of the term of contract. A superintendent shall only recommend a teacher for a contract of a term longer than one school year if the teacher has shown effectiveness as demonstrated by proficiency on the evaluation instrument. The local board may approve the superintendent's recommendation, may decide not to offer the teacher a new or renewed contract, or may decide to offer the teacher a renewed contract for a different term than recommended by the superintendent. 2

CONTRACT TEACHERS Length of Contract (G.S. 115C-325.3(a)): Teachers with less than three (3) years in the LEA are only eligible to receive a one (1) year contract. Teachers with at least three (3) years in the LEA can receive employment contracts for terms of one (1), two (2), or four (4) years. 3

CONTRACT TEACHERS Nonrenewals (G.S. 115C-325.3(d)(e)(f)): Superintendent gives notice to teacher by June 1 of decision not to recommend a new contract. No reasons are required to be provided. (G.S. 115C-325.3(d)). Teacher has the right to petition board for a hearing within 10 days of receipt of superintendent s notice. Board has complete discretion whether or not to grant hearing and must notify teacher. There is no right to a hearing or to appeal to court. 4

CONTRACT TEACHERS Length of Contract after July 1, 2018: Base requirements for two (2) and four (4) year contracts: Teacher must have taught in the LEA for at least three (3) years; AND Teacher must be rated at least Proficient on the teacher evaluation instrument. Renewal recommendation shall be for maximum of one (1) year if teacher has not demonstrated proficiency on the evaluation instrument. Superintendent can use additional criteria when deciding on the length of teacher contracts. 5

CONTRACT TEACHERS Query: What criteria, in addition to those required by law, may be considered when deciding the length of contract to offer or grant a teacher? In addition to its length, contracts have other terms, conditions and a teacher salary for work performed. A teacher and a district need each other. Almost everything is negotiable. A long-term good relationship only enhances the performance of the district and the teacher. 6

CONTRACT TEACHERS Query: Why not grant all teachers 1-year contracts? Pros: Good legal strategy for treating all teachers equally. (e.g., small class size; funding for art/music/p.e./etc.; overall funding; teacher pipeline problems; etc.) Maintain maximum flexibility in era of uncertainty Cons: Very unlikely to retain quality teachers. Harder to recruit teachers with more than three years of experience. Harder to recruit/retain teachers in low-performing schools. Harder to recruit/retain teachers in poorer systems with low teacher supplements. Harder to recruit teachers in high demand/low supply. 7

CONTRACT TEACHERS ADDITIONAL CRITERIA SOUNDS PROMISING BUT RISKY! What contract length enhances quality teacher recruitment and retention? PRO: Longer teacher contract terms for the district mean less turnover, more ability to improve teaching and learning, and more stability in workplace. CON: A teacher whose performance is declining can do a lot of damage in one year, much less two or four. What additional factors might be considered in determining the length of the contract term? Hard to staff school teaching assignments Hard to staff subjects NBPTS Certified Multiple areas of licensure Extracurricular responsibilities Local needs Low-performing schools 8

CONTRACT TEACHERS Query: Should the board adopt a policy listing the criteria and the process that will be used to determine the term to be granted for renewal contracts? Pro: All teachers will have notice of the criteria and process used to determine eligibility for a contract term longer than a year. Con: The policy may force the BOE to offer a longer contract than desirable in a particular situation, or have other unintended consequences (discriminatory effect), despite the BOE intentions to adopt a fair policy. 9

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria Teacher Performance Merit pay Accomplished on the majority of the evaluation standards on the prior year s evaluation to receive a multi-year contract. Require sustained rating (e.g. at least 3 years of Accomplished ratings on the majority of the evaluation standards). Distinguished on the majority of the evaluation standards on the prior year s evaluation to receive a multi-year contract. Require sustained rating (e.g. at least 3 years of Distinguished ratings on the majority of the evaluation standards). (cont.) 10

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria (cont.) Teacher Performance To receive a two (2) year contact the teacher must be rated Proficient on all standards on the prior year s evaluation. To receive a four (4) year contract the teacher must be rated Accomplished on all standards on the prior year s evaluation. Require sustained ratings for multiple years (cont.) 11

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria (cont.) Student Growth Measurements NOTE: Using Analysis of Student Work to assess teacher performance as part of the teacher evaluation system was eliminated in S.L. 2017-257. Do not use ASW state or local - as criteria for deciding contract terms. Eligibility for Performance Bonuses (cont.) 12

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria (cont.) Position Specific Teachers employed in hard to fill roles who meet the minimum statutory standards receive or are eligible for multi-year contracts Example: Math, Science, EC, etc. Recruiting/Retention Considerations Are you having a tough time recruiting/retaining teachers? For all positions or only certain categories? Should you bargain job placements/assignments/schools? (cont.) 13

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria (cont.) Service in Multiple Capacities Teachers who serve in multiple roles and meet the minimum statutory standards receive or are eligible for multi-year contracts Example: Coaches, Advisors, Band Directors, etc. Multiple areas of expertise and licensure. (cont.) 14

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria (cont.) Service in Leadership Roles Teachers who serve in leadership roles and meet the minimum statutory standards receive or are eligible for multi-year contracts Examples: School Improvement Team members, Grade level chairs, Mentors, Department chairs, etc. (cont.) 15

CONTRACT TEACHERS Potential Additional Criteria (cont.) BEWARE!!!! Whatever criteria your Superintendent or BOE may select, make sure that the criteria do NOT have a discriminatory effect! 16