Recent Teacher Policy Changes in Tennessee: Achieving and Maintaining Tenure
May 2012
Author: Linda Wesson
Tenure for primary and secondary school teachers was redefined in Tennessee with the passage of Public Chapter 70 (2011). Tenure is a continuing employment status for teachers who have met the requirements of a probationary period and who cannot be fired without just cause and due process. State law provides certain rights for tenured teachers and sets the criteria to earn and maintain tenure. The original state tenure law was enacted in 1951; the requirements for achieving and maintaining tenure did not change substantially until 2011. With a more intensive evaluation process for teachers adopted in 2011 and the requirement that only high-scoring teachers be eligible for tenure, it is expected that fewer teachers than in the past will receive tenure. This brief describes the changes to the state’s tenure laws.