Taking Note
February 2011
revised in order to ensure that the most effective teachers are rewarded.
First, Tennessee needs to find a way to make the granting of tenure a
more meaningful decision. Several states offer potential solutions. For
example, both Colorado and a proposed law in Illinois have lengthened
the probationary period for teachers so that principals have more time
to examine a teachers’ effectiveness before granting tenure. Colorado
and Oklahoma go even farther by requiring that teachers be rated as
“effective” on the state’s new teacher evaluation system for three years
before receiving tenure.
Second, Tennessee must continue working to develop alternative
compensation systems that pay educators both on effectiveness and
specialty area. Although Tennessee has contracted with Battelle for
Kids to provide technical assistance to districts wanting to develop
alternative compensation systems, the Tennessee Department of
Education could provide even more support. For example, the
Department could use Race to the Top funds to hire legal consultants to
help districts develop alternative compensation systems, as legal issues
have been a challenge to developing alternative compensation systems
in several districts. Tennessee could also further the development of
alternative compensation systems by fi