TITLE
RESOLUTION OPPOSING SENATE BILL 6 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD TIE TEACHER RETENTION, CERTIFICATION AND PAY TO STUDENT TEST SCORES ON STANDARDIZED TESTS AND GRADUALLY DO AWAY WITH TEACHER TENURE

BODY
WHEREAS, on March 24, the Florida Senate by a vote of 21-17 passed Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senator John Thrasher (R � Jacksonville); and
WHEREAS, SB 6 is now in messages to the Florida House, where a companion bill, HB 7189, has been introduced by the House PreK-12 Policy Committee; and
WHEREAS, if passed by the House in its current form, SB 6 would create an evaluation system that would tie teacher pay to gains in student test scores, would gradually do away with teacher tenure and eventually would put teachers on an annual contract that would not be automatically renewed; and
WHEREAS, SB 6 would:
* Require that all teachers be retained, certified and compensated based on student test scores on standardized tests, not years of experience or degrees held;
* Decrease the ability of local school districts to make a wide range of decisions having an impact on local schools and replacing them with a one-size-fits-all approach mandated from Tallahassee;
* Penalize school districts that consider length of service or degrees held when determining compensation or reductions in force;
* Order that teachers be issued probationary contracts for up to five years; then an annual contract every year thereafter;
* Mandate more standardized testing for students and end of course exams for all subjects and for teachers through additional certification requirements;
* Exclude teacher salary schedules from collective bargaining, and provide that the state would decide on categories of differentiated pay;
* Abolish an effective and popular program that rewards those who become National Board Certified Teachers, a rigorous national program that awards certification after a yearlong, independent review of a teacher�s work in the classroom and knowledge of their field; and
WHEREAS, Florida teachers, parents and students alike have expressed widespread opposition to SB 6; and
WHEREAS, because teacher pay would be tied to student performance, SB 6 ironically would provide disincentives for teachers to work in the schools that need the best teachers the most, such as inner-city schools, low performing schools and schools with large populations of immigrant students; and
WHEREAS, SB 6 also would provide disincentives for teachers to work with the students who need the best teachers the most, such as students with special needs, students who are below average performing and students who face challenges in their family lives; and
WHEREAS, SB 6 simply does not account for the fact that not every student comes to school ready, able and willing to learn, and not every student has involved families,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Opposes SB 6 or similar legislation that would tie teacher retention, certification and pay to student test scores on standardized tests and gradually do away with teacher tenure.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.