PROP. 74

Public School Teachers. Waiting Period for Permanent Status. Dismissal.

Should the probationary period for public school teachers be increased from two to five years, and should the process by which school boards can dismiss a teaching employee be modified?

Increases probationary period for public school teachers from two to five years. Modifies the process by which school boards can dismiss a teaching employee who receives two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations.

Official Text (PDF)

According to this measure, bad teachers are at least partly responsible for California’s failure to meet its own academic achievement goals. If the state could fire teachers more easily — after only two negative evaluations — and extend a new teacher’s trial period from two to five years, there would be fewer bad teachers.

• Background, key web sites, public opinion polls, select news and reports by the IGS Library at UC Berkeley
• In Depth Non-Partisan Analysis, League of Women Voters Ca.
• Pros & Cons Analysis, League of Women Voters Ca.
• Notable backers and detractors as well as major campaign contributors, California Voter Foundation
• Official Legislative Analysis, California Legislative Analyst’s Office (PDF)

• “California Students’ Math, Reading Scores Among Lowest,” Los Angeles Times
• Many voters frustrated over tenure for teachers, San Francisco Chronicle
• “Bad Apples,” The American Prospect, a liberal journal

SmartVoter, EasyVoter