Reimagining tenure reform from a teacher’s perspective

Abstract

If we want to attract the best and brightest and those with the biggest hearts into the profession that educates all others, we must show today’s college graduates that they have something to look forward to if they choose to be a teacher. We want them to know that teaching is intrinsically gratifying but that there also are tangible rewards and recognition that teachers matter. This could be achieved if instead of vanquishing teacher tenure we reimagined it as a system that would have these traits: Identifies a distinct role for states with local flexibility; set a minimum for years of experience; requires demonstration of growth and development; revisits tenure determinations; and invests in mid- to late-career development and support.