California Proposition 74 (2005)
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Proposition 74 (2005) was a ballot proposition in the California special election, 2005.
[edit] Summary (From the State Attnorney General)
Proposition 74: Public School Teachers. Waiting Period for Permanent Status. Dismissal. Initiative Statute.
- Increases length of time required before a teacher may become a permanent employee from two complete consecutive school years to five complete consecutive school years
- Measure applies to teachers whose probationary period commenced during or after the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
- Modifies the process by which school boards can dismiss a permanent teaching employee who receives two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments:
- Unknown impact on school district teacher salary costs as a result of changes in teacher tenure and dismissal practices. Fiscal impacts could vary significantly district by district.
[edit] Reaction
Most teachers opposed this measure, believing that Arnold Schwarzenegger was attempting to target them as a response to their intense lobbying efforts in Sacramento. However, some teachers approved of this proposition, saying that the quality of hired teachers would increase and they would perform better if they could be fired.
One major point the proponents constantly cited was a horror story: A Riverside teacher swore at her students, showed them R-rated movies, and generally was a bad teacher; however, due to tenure rules, the district had to pay the teacher $25,000 USD to quit. They said that Proposition 74 would make it easier to fire these kinds of teachers because they had a longer tenure period and less paperwork and procedures to fire a teacher.
Schwarzenegger himself promoted the proposition; Prop 74 was one of four propositions (the other three were 73, 75, and 76) he touted as his reform package to clean Sacramento up.
On November 8, 2005, California voters soundly rejected the proposition, with 44% voting for and 55% voting against.
