Legislative Bulletin: SAANYS moves on tenure bill

SAANYS Supports

S-6090

May 23, 2017

An act to amend the education law, in relation to tenure in certain school districts.

Senate Bill 6090 amends education law by allowing previously tenured principals, administrators, supervisors or other members of supervising staff of school districts, to be provided a shortened probationary period upon appointment by the board of education. Such administrators must have been appointed on or after July 1, 2015 and must not have been dismissed as a result of a 3020-a formal disciplinary hearing. The bill would be effective immediately.

The proposed bill would provide school administrators transitioning to a new position a reduced probationary period of three years, instead of the currently mandated four years. The proposed bill is specific to administrators who have been granted tenure in a previous school district, the current school district of employment, or a board of cooperative educational services. This provision allows school districts to affirm demonstration of effective execution of duties and attainment of appropriate skills via the granting of tenure in a prior setting as sufficient reason to shorten the probationary period. The shortened probationary period is not allowable for a person who has not been granted tenure previously. Currently, a shortened probationary period is allowable for teachers under similar situations. The proposed revision to the statute would provide equitable processes to school administrators.

The School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) supports this proposed amendment of the statute. Granting tenure to school administrators is a serious decision and awarded only after educators demonstrate high quality service. The proposed allowance of a reduced probationary period for previously tenured administrators transitioning to other positions is sound practice and is warranted as the pipeline for school leaders decreases. A reduced probationary period could be an incentive for administrators to accept difficult and complex work in new settings.