Public schools; evaluation policies and grievance procedures. (SB1223)

Introduced By

Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) with support from co-patron Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg)

Description

Public schools; evaluation policies and grievance procedures. Makes several changes to the processes by which teachers and certain administrators are evaluated and to the grievance procedure process. The bill requires teachers, assistant principals, and principals to be evaluated every year, either formally or informally, and such evaluations will include student academic progress as a significant component and an overall summative rating. The bill increases from three years to five years the term of probationary service required for a teacher before becoming eligible for a continuing contract. The bill requires local school boards to provide a new principal with a mentor.

The bill also changes the grievance procedure for teachers. It gives local school boards the option to assign a grievance hearing to be heard by a hearing officer designated by the local school board. The option for a grievance to be heard in front of a fact-finding panel would no longer be available.

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Outcome

History