Contract Quick Reference

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Contract Quick Reference

I. Probationary – End of Term

      • Renew: Automatically renewed if not given notice in the time frame required under state law.
      • Termination: Notice must be given by the 10th calendar day before the last day of instruction required by the contract.
      • Standard of review – None. No specific reason for termination is required. Whatever decision the board makes is final and may not be appealed. A probationary teacher can be non-renewed for any reason—good, bad, or no reason at all at the end of the year.
        Do not get a board hearing.

II. Term Contracts – End of Term

      • Renew: Automatically renewed if not given notice in the time frame required under state law.
      • Nonrenewal: Notice must be given by the 10th calendar day before the last day of instruction required by the contract.
      • School Board Policy must contain a statement of all of the reasons why a teacher’s contract might not be renewed.
      • The Board must consider the most recent evaluations before making a decision not to renew a teacher’s contract if the evaluations are relevant to the reason for the board’s actions.
      • Teacher has 15 days to request a hearing.
      • Board gets to decide whether the board or independent hearing examiner hears case.

III. Continuing Contract

      • There is no non-renewal because there is no end to the term of the contract.
      • Termination: The contract continues until the teacher quits the district or the district gives notice of intent to terminate the teacher.
      • Teacher is able to request an independent hearing examiner.

IV. Under both term and continuing contracts…

      • Procedural compliance with non-renewal requirements is absolutely required, i.e. must not send letter of nonrenewal before nonrenewal.
      • Teacher may appeal to the Commissioner of Education.
      • Can use evidence from prior years – no years beyond the terms of the contract. For continuing contracts, this can go back to the time the contract was issued. For a one-year contract, evidence from that year can be presented.

Very, Very Important: By law, the teacher on a continuing contract has only 10 days to appeal. A teacher on a term
contract has 15 days to ask for a hearing after receiving notice from the Board that his/her contract will not be
renewed.

Best advice: As soon as you receive information that your contract is in danger, call your association. All days are calendar days. Weekends and holidays count.

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