 The unions gave a failing grade to a proposed plan that expands on
the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010, which links teachers'
evaluations scores with student performance.The evaluations are
currently set to come online throughout the entire state by 2016.
Additional money would be provided to school districts to speed
implementation of the teacher reviews under the plan.
Tenure would no longer mean a lifelong position, according to
those in support of the proposed reforms.
Failing the evaluations would come with serious consequences,
such as stripping teachers of state-granted certifications if they
have poor evaluations three years in a row during a 10-year period,
according to the plan. Poor performances also would allow school
boards, following a superintendent's suggestion, to fire a teacher
or return them to probationary status.
Teachers would be able to plead their case before action is taken
in both instances.
"Sadly, I can say that if this package of proposed legislation
were passed as is, I could not in confidence counsel my students to
become teachers in Illinois," said Dan Montgomery, president of the
Illinois Federation of Teachers, to some applause from the crowd. "I
would urge them to go to another state where I think their voice as
professionals would be far more respected."
At least two members of the committee, Karen Yarbrough,
D-Maywood, and Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley, said it does no one any
good to let the changes to the education system languish in the
legislature.
If the state's school system was a business, its windows and
doors would be shuttered by now, according to Yarbrough, who is the
founder and chief executive officer of Hathaway Insurance Agency.
"How many generations of students are we going to lose to waiting
for the changes we need? ... We've got to come up with better plans,
better strategies, and do it now," Pritchard said.
Yes, the education system needs to be mended, but change must be
done deliberately and with input from everyone it affects, said the
union representatives.
Ken Swanson, president of Illinois Education Association, told
the bipartisan committee that while his union wants to work with all
parties to improve the system, pushing legislation through before
the new General Assembly is sworn in Jan. 12 is wrong.
"All we're saying is, let's take the time to get this right so
that it works for the children. If that takes more than two weeks,
not one more class, not one more generation is put at risk if we
need six weeks instead of 10 days," Swanson said.
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No stranger to how schools operate, committee co-chair Roger
Eddy, R-Hutsonville, is the superintendent of the Hutsonville school
district. He said the speed at which things move through the
legislature can be out of the control of those involved.
Regardless of timelines, the current plan is a starting point,
Eddy said.
"I would just ask those that really do have problems with what's
been presented and believe in the concept to offer some language and
suggestions as to how we can, together, move along with a common
goal, and that is to improve this whole process," he said.
Education reform advocacy groups that side with Pritchard and
Yarbrough's position were also present at Thursday's hearing.
Advance Illinois and Stand for Children spoke Thursday in support of
streamlining teacher dismissal and changes to teacher tenure. (Stand
for Children donated $50,000 to committee member Keith Farnham,
D-Elgin, and $100,000 to committee member Jehan Gordon, D-Peoria,
during the recent election cycle.)
Allowing schools to more easily let go of teachers with poor
performance evaluations would improve the education system by
shedding dead weight, representatives from these groups said.
Moreover, the groups suggest that the plan would offer those not cut
out for the profession a graceful exit.
"In a professional work environment that values highly effective
teachers, those who struggle, through no fault of their own, because
this is a very hard job, should be given a dignified exit, period.
But a dignified exit shouldn't be unobtainable," said Robin Steans,
executive director for Advance Illinois.
The committee will meet again today (Friday) to discuss changing
how teachers can strike.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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