1. New Teacher Tenure Process Teacher Quality Replacing Low Performers Current Denial Rate Process Steps for Principals Tenure Toolkit and Tenure Notification System March 2008 Office of School Leadership

2. 2 “If the effects were to accumulate, having a top-quartile teacher rather than a bottom quartile teacher four years in a row would be: Enough to close the black-white test score gap… Have twice the impact of reducing class size from 22 to 16.” Source: Gordon, R., Kane, T.J., and Staiger, D.O. (2006). Identifying Effective teachers Using Performance on the Job. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution. Teacher Quality is the Key Indicator for Improving Student Achievement Source: Gordon, R., Kane, T.J., and Staiger, D.O. (2006). Identifying Effective teachers Using Performance on the Job. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution.

3. 3 Teacher Quality is the Key Indicator for Improving Student Achievement Source: Gordon, R., Kane, T.J., and Staiger, D.O. (2006). Identifying Effective teachers Using Performance on the Job. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution. Teacher impacts are relatively stable and predictable. After two years, we can predict with relative accuracy which teachers will be in the top quartile and which will be in the bottom.

4. 4 Replacing Low Performers is the Key Lever to Improving Student Achievement New York, Math, Grades 4 - 6 Source: Thomas Kane, Jonah Rockoff, and Douglas Staiger, “What Does Certification Tell Us About Teacher Effectiveness: Evidence from New York City (2006) Change in Percentile Rank Original: Uncert.1 st YearBottom 25% Replaced With: Cert.3 rd YearAverage Replacing the typical bottom-quartile teacher with the average teacher would have a larger impact on student achievement than replacing the typical uncertified teacher with the typical certified teacher or replacing the typical novice teacher with the typical third-year teacher.

5. 5 Our Tenure Denial Rate is Low Denials and extensions of tenure increased from 2006 to 2007, but are still quite low: Denials more than doubled, from 25 to 66 (out of 5000) Extensions more than tripled, from 30 to 115 (out of 5000)

6. 6 Myths and Facts Myth: Denying tenure requires substantial documentation of significant underperformance. Fact: There is no minimum amount of documentation required to deny tenure. The legal standard is that so long as the decision is not “arbitrary and capricious,” the denial will be upheld on appeal. In deciding tenure, ask: a) Did the teacher receive written notice of serious performance issues? b) Did the teacher get a meaningful opportunity to improve? c) Did the teacher fail to improve to a satisfactory level? Myth: Teachers often successfully appeal tenure decisions. Fact: Appeals of tenure decisions are done internally and are only overturned in very rare circumstances.

7. 7 Myths and Facts Myth: Employees who have been rated satisfactory in their first two years can’t be denied based on their third year alone. Fact: Even teachers with prior satisfactory ratings can be denied completion of probation. Myth: Probationary employees can only be terminated at specific times during the probationary period. Fact: Probationary employees can be terminated at any time during their probationary period. When it is during the first or second year, this is called a discontinuance and does not utilize the Tenure Notification System. In the final year, it is called a denial.

8. 8 Extensions When are extensions appropriate? When are extensions inappropriate? What documentation and signatures are required for an extension?

9. 9 New Tenure Process—Step by Step For employees completing probation Aug 1, 2008 – Jan 31, 2009 Important Notes: After April 15 th, contact your HR Partner to submit late responses or to make changes to previously submitted responses If the superintendent requests that you change a recommendation, you will receive an email and the record will be unlocked After the end of the school year, tenure recommendations will automatically be entered into HRS/EIS For All: Determine whether to approve, extend, or deny tenure. To earn tenure, teachers must demonstrate significant professional skill and a meaningful, positive impact on student learning. STEP 1: MAKE THE TENURE DECISION STEP 2: SYSTEM INPUT DUE BY APRIL 15 STEP 3: COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION BY END OF TERM For Approvals: Following superintendent approval, e-mail will direct you to print all approval certificates in the tenure system, and distribute them to employees For Denials: Following superintendent approval, e-mail will direct you to print system-generated denial letter and next steps Send copies of the signed denial letter, documentation, and signed Rating sheet to all parties listed on bottom of the rating sheet For Extensions: Discuss extension with the employee Obtain all required signatures on extension agreement (employee, principal, superintendent) Provide employee with copy of the form and maintain a copy at the school Enter the extension into the tenure system For Approvals and Denials: Enter the recommendation to approve or deny completion of probation in the system

10. 10 Contacts and Website Information Websites: Principals’ Portal: You can find this on the “Employees” section of the DOE homepage or at the link below: http://intranet.nycboe.net/DOEPortal/Principals/ http://intranet.nycboe.net/DOEPortal/Principals/ Principals’ Portal from A Non-DOE Computer: https://portal.nycenet.edu/DOEPortal/Principals (Sign in with Central\Username)https://portal.nycenet.edu/DOEPortal/Principals Tenure Toolkit: You can find this by going to the “Hiring & Staff Development” section of the Principals’ Portal. Tenure Notification System: Find this on the Tenure Toolkit homepage or at the links below: http://intranet.nycboe.net/offices/dhr/HRProfiles/Tenure/SubmitTenureDecisions.aspxhttp://intranet.nycboe.net/offices/dhr/HRProfiles/Tenure/SubmitTenureDecisions.aspx (from DOE computer) https://portal.nycenet.edu/offices/DHR/HRProfiles/TENURE/SUBMITTENUREDECISIONS.ASPXhttps://portal.nycenet.edu/offices/DHR/HRProfiles/TENURE/SUBMITTENUREDECISIONS.ASPX (from non-DOE computer) Contacts: Patricia J. Paddock Phone: 718-935-5134 E-mail: ppadock@schools.nyc.govppadock@schools.nyc.gov Jonathan Skolnick Phone:718-935-4283 E-mail: jskolnick@schools.nyc.govjskolnick@schools.nyc.gov