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.