NEA issues action alert over Dieckhaus' latest bill to eliminate teacher tenure

Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) has issued an action alert over the latest bill from Rep. Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington, Education Committee chairman, to eliminate teacher tenure:

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee will hear HB 1526 (Scott Dieckhaus) on February 1. The bill eliminates the current tenure law for new hires, and places new hires into a system of contracts of up to four years. The bill also substantially changes the existing tenure law, eliminating seniority as a factor in decisions regarding reduction in force. The Association strongly opposes the bill.

The bill also includes numerous mandates regarding teacher evaluation systems, such as requiring at least fifty percent of evaluations to be based on student test scores and prohibiting districts and employees from designing evaluation systems within collective bargaining negotiations.

ACTION NEEDED: Your help is needed! Please call, write or e-mail to urge your state representative to oppose HB 1526, the Tenure Repeal Bill.

Missouri teachers have been targeted this year by right-wing politicians like Dieckhaus and Sen. Jane Cunningham, as well as by their legislative leaders. It is amazing how far hundreds of thousands of Rex Sinquefield dollars will go.