Teachers union sues state over "unconstitutional" merit pay law

[Sancho]

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On Wednesday, the state's largest teachers union filed suit on behalf of Lofton and several other teachers challenging the new law that redefines how public school teachers are paid, evaluated, hired and fired.

The new law determines teachers' pay in part by how well their students perform on standardized tests. It eliminated the old "tenure" system of multiyear contracts by giving new teachers one-year contracts and making layoffs based on the performance evaluations instead of seniority.

Specifically, the union says the law prohibits the use of degrees in setting salary schedules in most instances, mandates base salary levels for performance salary schedules, and requires school boards to release teachers with the lowest performance evaluations in times of staff cutbacks, among other complaints.

The union already is involved in ongoing lawsuits against the state relating to changes to state employee pension plans and a proposed constitutional amendment relating to tax funds used for religious institutions.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/teachers-union-sues-state-over-unconstitutional-merit-pay-bill/1191590

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State by state we're fighting back. Let them spend ALL the Koch $'s on tv ads and bribes. We're organized!!!

[MichiganVote]

1. K&R

[Cool Logic]

2. I don't understand...why would paying someone based on their performance...

be unconstitutional?

[Scurrilous]

3. (FL) State teachers union sues to block merit pay

Source: Sun-Sentinel

<snip>

"Florida's teachers union filed a lawsuit against the state Wednesday, arguing a new teacher merit-pay law violates public employees' rights to collective bargaining.

The suit, which lists six teachers as the plaintiffs, was filed by the Florida Education Association and the Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association. It attacks as unconstitutional the law that overhauls how teachers are to be evaluated, paid and promoted.

"This sweeping change totally changed the teaching profession in Florida," said FEA President Andy Ford. "And the Legislature did it while ignoring calls from the FEA and others for a more collaborative approach that sought buy-in from educators and a sincere effort for compromise."

The new law, a major priority for Gov. Rick Scott and pushed by major Republican entities such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce and former Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future, links teacher evaluations to standardized test results, which will then be used to determine salary bumps and hiring decisions. The law also eliminates long-term job protection for new teachers, instead putting them on one-year contracts.

Scott was on MSNBC Wednesday morning touting the new law – the first he signed after taking office -- and other education changes he pushed for, all of which were opposed by the FEA."

Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/elections/fl-teachers-union-sues-over-merit-pay-20110914,0,2918034.story

[Hugabear]

4. All part of the Florida GOP's war on education

This plan does nothing to improve education. By pegging merit pay to standardized testing, it just ensures that teachers spend more time trying to get kids ready for a particular test, rather than giving them a well-rounded education.

[goforit]

5. Meanwhile, the Koch brothers own the company the scores the tests

total manipulation.
Wake up people.