Free Republic

A lawsuit seeking to have New York's teacher tenure protections ruled unconstitutional will advance, thanks to a judge's ruling late Friday afternoon. Teachers unions filed a motion to dismiss the case, but their motion was denied. ... The parents seeking to invalidate the teacher tenure protections argue the law robs children of their right to a basic education. "Teachers in New York City are more likely to die on the job than be replaced because of poor performance," according to the Partnership for Educational Justice, which is backing the case. Roughly 30 percent of New York students are proficient in...

NEW! POLL SHOWS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR REFORM A recent public opinion poll of likely voters in California shows overwhelming support of Propositions 73, 74, 75, 76, 77. Proposition 75- Paycheck Protection- received the highest level of support at 60% in favor. Among Likely voters: PROP 73 59% Yes 39% No 2% Undecided PROP 74 55% Yes 44% No 2% Undecided Prop 75 60% Yes 37% No 3% Undecided Prop 76 58% Yes 36% No 6% Undecided Prop 77 59% Yes 36% No 5% Undecided Conducted by: Survey USA Sponsoring News Organizations: KABC-TV Los Angeles , KPIX-TV San Francisco 1,200 California...

In California, "Principal Faye Banton can walk through the classrooms of Edison Middle School in south Los Angeles and quickly identify her weakest teachers. But Banton knows she can't dismiss them without a drawn-out fight," the Los Angeles Times reported this week. "It takes much too long to get rid of them," she said. Under California law, school districts can dismiss teachers during their first two years on the job without providing any reason. But after two years in the classroom, teachers earn the more protective "permanent status." Before dismissing a permanent-status teacher, district officials must meticulously document poor performance...

UNIQUE AMONG education reformers, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has zeroed in on underperforming teachers as a principal reason why millions of California students are doing so poorly in our schools. The initiative he is pushing to make it more difficult for teachers to get "tenure" is a classic case of a solution in search of problem. Let's put aside for the moment the fact that teachers don't actually get tenure. They get "permanent status," which still means under state law they can be fired for all kinds of reasons, including inadequate performance. But they are entitled to a hearing and other...

(snip) Schwarzenegger has said he remains open to negotiating a compromise on all of his proposed initiatives, even though they're heading for the ballot. If so, he should start with the tenure proposal. It's an odd issue to go to war over anyway, considering the multitude of education initiatives he could be staking his political career on. Written by Bonnie Garcia, a Republican assemblywoman from El Centro, it was plucked from obscurity without much analysis. After a merit pay proposal for teachers fell by the wayside, tenure became the No. 1 issue by default. The initiative would make two changes...

Initiative Update as of June 7, 2005 Initiatives Qualified forthe Next Statewide Election Ballot     1067. (SA04RF0030, Amdt. #1-S) [REVISED]Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.Proponents: Paul E. Laubacher and Barbara R. Laubacher (916) 381-5222Amends California Constitution to bar abortion on unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver. Permits judicial waiver of notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor's maturity or minor's best interests. Physician must report abortions performed on minors and State shall compile statistics. Authorizes monetary damages for violation....