N.J. Governor Wants to End Teacher Tenure
Declaring, “The time to eliminate teacher tenure is now,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said in his State of the State speech that teaching could no longer be the “only profession” without consequences for failure.
In New Jersey, teachers get tenure after three years, the Wall Street Journal reports. Tenured teachers can be dismissed after a judicial process, but critics say the process is too long and costly. Defenders of teacher tenure often argue that is not a lifetime job guarantee but a path marked by due process. The legislature sets the rules for tenure, but the state education department can set standards for evaluating teachers.
Christie, a Republican, would need cooperation from Democrats in the state legislature to carry out his plan. Democrats have said they are open to changing tenure, and a Senate education committee has held a hearing to help lawmakers draft legislation.
Filed under: K-12 Education News
Tags: Education Policy, Public Policy, Teachers
