The Virginia Senate narrowly defeated a bill 20-18 yesterday which sought to eliminate tenure for public school teachers of grades kindergarten through 12. The vote came after the House of Delegates passed a similar measure earlier this week.
Senate Bill 438 initially passed temporarily 19-18 but was rejected after reconsideration by the upper chamber.
The House bill passed with largely Republican support. Thirty-one Democrats and 12 Republicans opposed that bill, and only one Democrat voted in favor of the measure, Virginia Education Association spokesman John O'Neil said.
Del. Richard Bell, R-Staunton, said the House bill would replace "continuing contracts" with three-year contracts. Teachers would be formally evaluated every three years and dismissed if deemed necessary.
"I decided to carry the bill because it's a step in the right direction," Bell said. "It is not easy to get rid of bad teachers [under the current system] ... [and this bill] rewards the best teachers."
Currently, tenured teachers receive both warnings and hearings before they can be dismissed.
"Virginia law says that teachers may be dismissed for incompetency, immorality, noncompliance with school laws and regulations, disability as shown by competent medical evidence, conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude, or other good and just cause," according to an article in the Virginia Journal of Education.
O'Neil said the related House and Senate bills are unnecessary and harm teachers who have been doing a good job.
"I'd say it's really a solution in search of a problem," O'Neil said. "At the end of every three-year period they can be dismissed for no reason whatsoever. It sends entirely the wrong message right now."
Bell said the House bill moves the state toward supporting a merit-based pay system, in which the best teachers will be rewarded instead of the longest-serving teachers.
"The fact is that not everybody is cut out to be a teacher," O'Neil said. "I [went into teaching] because I wanted to make a difference."
O'Neil said more experienced teachers deliver a better quality of education to students, and they should be more highly compensated for it.
"It takes a while for teachers to develop and gain experience in the classroom," O'Neil said. "We support valuing that experience."
O'Neil said the bills fail to address class sizes and funding for new and updated textbooks, ignoring "what really could help public school kids."
Gov. Bob McDonnell had said he would sign the House bill into law if it reached his desk, which now appears unlikely given the Senate's vote yesterday to reject the broadly similar measure.
Read More
University advances sustainability goals outlined in 2030 Plan
By Vyshnavi Tatta | YesterdayAs part of the 2030 Plan’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and fossil fuel-free operations by 2050, the University has prioritized environmental resilience and sustainability.
U.Va. researchers identify that HIV drugs can protect against Alzheimer’s disease
By Lauren Seeliger | 5 days agoDoctor Jayakrishna Ambati and his research team have begun work on a new drug called K9 which could treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | May 21, 2025Many students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
