Contact:
Jennifer Walmer | 720.224.1909 | JWalmer@dfer.org
Devin Boyle | 202.445.0416 | Devin@dfer.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attack on Great Teachers for All Avoided for 2014 Legislative Session
In a telling move, Rep. Joseph Salazar backed out of a transparent discussion on his bill HB1268 that would have mandated the return of forced placement of teachers. After sharing misinformation and suggesting that DPS was operating against their own self-interest by dismissing good teachers, he moved to postpone the bill indefinitely, effectively killing the legislation for the 2014 session.
The bill would have forced districts to place those teachers removed from their positions who were unable to secure mutual consent assignments back into the classroom, regardless of the wishes of the principal.
“This bill was a slap in the face to SB 191, known as the Great Teachers and Leaders Law,” said Jennifer Walmer, DFER-CO State Director. “SB 191 was passed in 2010 to provide our children with the best teachers possible by making sure principals have a say in the placement process. Despite references to bringing back the legislation next year, Rep. Salazar should know: forced placement laws that prioritize politics over the needs of kids aren’t welcome in Colorado.”
Superintendent Tom Boasberg added, “I’m disappointed that we didn’t have the chance to set the record straight in the face of such misinformation. This bill is a civil right travesty because it does the most damage to low-income kids in high poverty schools who most need the best teachers. Forced placement of teachers is wrong – wrong for kids, wrong for teachers, and wrong for schools.”
HB1268 was the latest in a series of attacks against SB 191, which increased accountability in the classroom and established mutual consent laws in teacher placement. The Colorado Education Association recently filed a lawsuit to overturn SB 191 and a bipartisan coalition of business and education leaders are fighting back, citing broad public support for the measure.
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About Democrats for Education Reform
Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a political reform organization with 13 state offices that cultivates and supports leaders in the Democratic party who champion America’s public schoolchildren.