Arizona Leads the Nation Again: This Time in Hostility Toward Teachers
Last updated: Monday - November 23, 2009
On September 4, 2009, the Governor of Arizona signed into law a bill marks a high point in anti-union aggression against the teaching profession. Starting tomorrow, November 24, 2009, the following changes to teacher personnel practices will be law in the state of Arizona:

1. School districts are prohibited from using tenure or seniority in making retention decisions. Nor can they use seniority in decisions to reduce force.
2. The requirement is prohibited that all tenured teachers salaries must be reduced equally. Administrators may target pay reductions on tenured teachers.
3. The number of days that an inadequate teacher must be placed on an improvement plan is reduced from 85 to 60.
4. Teachers may not be compensated for conducting union business on contracted time.
5. Districts are no longer required to notify teachers by April 15th about continuing contracts. Districts can issue contracts at any time during the year.

These changes are seen as clearing the way for tying teacher pay to students test scores, a measure favored by Secretary Duncan.

With its demographic character--lots of minorities and lots of old people--Arizona has consistently shown itself to lead the nation in anti-public education reforms.

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