PROVIDENCE R.I. -- Dropping a bombshell on teacher unions Rhode Islands state Education Commissioner Deborah Gist announced Friday that districts must abolish seniority as a method of assigning teachers.
Gist in a letter to all superintendents Thursday said the Board of Regents new Basic Education Plan which takes effect in July 2010 requires that highly effective educators work with students who have significant achievement gaps.
In my view she wrote in a press release no system that bases teacher assignments solely on seniority can comply with this new regulation.
The state has 12000 public school teachers who are represented by one of two unions the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Care Professionals or the National Education Association Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Care Professionals has already promised to take Gist to court claiming that she has exceeded her authority under state and federal law.
PROVIDENCE R.I. -- Dropping a bombshell on teacher unions Rhode Islands state Education Commissioner Deborah Gist announced Friday that districts must abolish seniority as a method of assigning teachers.
Gist in a letter to all superintendents Thursday said the Board of Regents new Basic Education Plan which takes effect in July 2010 requires that highly effective educators work with students who have significant achievement gaps.
In my view she wrote in a press release no system that bases teacher assignments solely on seniority can comply with this new regulation.
The state has 12000 public school teachers who are represented by one of two unions the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Care Professionals or the National Education Association Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Care Professionals has already promised to take Gist to court claiming that she has exceeded her authority under state and federal law.
