At 3:45 am Tuesday morning, the State Senate passed Senate Bill 458 by a vote of 28-7. The bill goes on to the House of Representatives where it will be voted on later today.

Senate Bill 458 contains numerous provisions which include:

  • The Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) will continue their work developing guidelines for a new evaluation system.
    • The new evaluation system will be piloted at 8-10 schools in 2012-2013 and be assessed by the UConn Neag School.
  • A streamlined dismissal process for removing ineffective teachers
  • Funding for 1,000 new early childhood education seats (600 of these will be in the state’s lowest performing school districts)
  • Funding for PreK-3 reading programs in the state’s lowest performing school districts
  • Development of a Commissioner’s network of schools:
    • The 25 lowest performing schools will be in the network.
    • Establishes turnaround committee at each school which will develop a turnaround plan for those schools.
    • If turnaround plan is approved, unions will be able to bargain over the changes in those schools.
    • If turnaround plan is not approved, unions will be able to bargain over impact of changes.
    • 5 of the schools may be managed by charter schools, and would be required to take the students from those schools.
  • Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will no longer be required.
  • Creates a distinguished educator certification.
  • Requires teachers to get a masters degree in their area of teaching in order to receive their professional certification.
  • For the first time, creates a governing structure for the technical high school system comprised of industry experts unique to the system.

Read the full bill here.

How did your state representatives vote? Find out here.

Article from the Connecticut Mirror

Article from the Hartford Courant.

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