Los Angeles, CA — Teach Plus today issued the following statement on the appellate court decision in Vergara v. California:
With the California Court of Appeal overturning the 2014 ruling of Judge Rolf Treu in the Vergara vs. California case, there remains a great urgency for the California Legislature to act decisively to modify current legislation around teacher tenure, layoff, and dismissal policies.
Former Congressman and current Teach Plus Board Member George Miller said, “For poor and minority children, there’s a real urgency that the state address inequities of LIFO, tenure, and dismissal policies. I look forward to the appeal but the legislature shouldn’t wait.”
“Students’ fundamental rights in education hinge on access to excellent teachers,” said Mike Stryer, Teach Plus California Senior Executive Director. “As the lengthy appeals process unfolds, it is incumbent on the Legislature to develop thoughtfully-crafted legislation that provides more equitable access to excellent teaching for California’s lower-income students and students of color, and elevates the teaching profession.”
Under California’s current system, teachers are awarded tenure in as little as 18 months. A 2014 Teach Plus poll of over 500 California teachers found that the majority wants teachers to demonstrate effectiveness for a minimum of five years in order to earn tenure.
At the same time, the state’s layoff system contributes to an annual loss of outstanding teachers, as thousands of highly-effective teachers are laid off during budget cuts under a largely seniority-based system. The same 2014 poll also found that 70% of California teachers want performance included in determination of layoffs. In addition, three out of four California principals have had to lay off teachers who they wanted to keep because of current seniority rules, according to another recent Teach Plus poll.
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