Rhode Island ends seniority

STOP THE PRESSES!!!  Now THIS will shake the unions to their core: the bad-ass Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist has just declared an end to all seniority-based teacher assignments.  Here is the email from DFER's Joe Williams:

Dear education reformer:

Apologies for hitting you with our third email of the week like this, but you're totally going to want to hear this one.

Hopefully you will get this before you get your Friday evening beverage of choice makes your perspective less clear.

Earlier this week, we celebrated New York Assemblyman Sam Hoyt's groundbreaking "Race To The Top" legislation, designed to give New York a shot at even competing for boatloads of federal education cash. Then, we celebrated Michigan Senator Buzz Thomas' "smart cap" legislation, which would unleash the power of successful public charter schools in the Wolverine State (and help them get their hands on boatloads of federal education cash.)

But today, our edu-political crush is fixated on Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, who rocked the Ocean State by declaring an end to all seniority-based teacher assignments.

Yes, you read that correctly. (And yes, we're thinking the same thing as you right now, namely, "Holy crap!" And "It's about time sanity is prevailing.")

Stunning. Or at least stunningly commonsensical. 

Still wondering whether the "Race To The Top" is on or not? (Even the great state of Colorado should be worried about the competition this one, ladies and gentleman...)

According to her office's press release, Gist notified superintendents last night that seniority-based teacher assignments are totally out of line with the state's new "Basic Education Program."

"The new BEP requires that the system of management, professional training, evaluation, and assignment of instructional staff ensures that highly effective educators work with classrooms of students who have significant achievement gaps," Gist wrote. "In my view, no system that bases teacher assignments solely on seniority can comply with this regulation."

This is obviously good news for Rhode Island students (and even better news for the the law firms that will be paid handsomely to fight this out to protect existing seniority-based teacher assignments?)

Congrats to Commissioner Gist and her team for jumping so strongly into the race!

Have a great weekend. This train is moving fast...

Joe

The news release is posted at: www.ride.ri.gov/Commissioner/news/pressrels/2009_PressReleases/BEP%20and%20Teacher%20Assignment%20Release.102309.pdf