A bill that would tie teachers' pay to their students learning progress breezed through the Senate Budget Committee Wednesday, and is being fast-tracked to be taken up during the first days of the legislative session next month.
The bill would eliminate tenure for teachers hired after July 1, and establishes one-year contracts for teachers brought on board after that date. Teachers will be rated on the progress of their students in their classrooms over the course of three years, with those deemed highly effective or effective receiving raises. Those who receive two unsatisfactory evaluations in a three-year period or three needs improvement evaluations in a five-year period would not be offered another contract.
Senators voted down an amendment offered by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, which would have extended the length of the contract to three years, which he claimed would give teachers more security. Education reformers disagree completely. They say one-year contracts are needed to ensure accountability and weed out ineffective teachers.
It gives me great concern and pause to have an effective teachers contract expire at the end of the year. This is not a contract for life, but it is a recognition that the vast majority of our teachers are highly effective, Montford said.
The committee vote on the bill fell along largely partisan lines, with five of the six Democrats on the 20-member committee voting against it and all 14 Republicans on the committee voting in favor of it. That one favorable vote of Gary Siplin, D-Orlando gave Senate President Mike Haridopolos a chance to claim bipartisan support for the bill.
Haridopolos, from Merritt Island, said during a press conference Wednesday that the bill is one of his top priorities and will be taken up during the first week of the legislative session, which begins March 2.
He also praised the extensive hearings and committee meetings on the issue held by the bills sponsor, Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, who chairs the PreK-12 Education Committee, and stated that this years education reform bill will have a smoother ride than last years contentious battle over Senate Bill 6.
I think its a much more positive bill, its designed to focus on merit pay. Last years bill was more punitive, Haridopolos said.
But part of the acrimony generated by SB 6 flared up again Wednesday, as some teachers opposed to the bill angrily confronted Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, after the meeting because they were not allowed to speak. They accused Alexander, who chairs the Budget Committee,of deliberately calling on teachers in favor of the bill. Alexander said he tried to move the meetings crowded agenda along swiftly to allow more time for public comment, but did not slant the speakers.
I did not arrange the speakers, he said.
In addition to education reform, Haridopolos said he wants to take up other controversial measures like Medicaid reform in the first week of the legislative session, and hes unafraid of vocal Wisconsin-like protests from teachers and government worker unions.
When you take on the status quo, youre going to get a reaction, Haridopolos said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
