Dumb Question....

What does tenure mean and how does it work? Does it vary by state?

Thanks for your patience with my really random and dumb question!

Re: Dumb Question....

Definitely not a dumb question! You don't have experience with it yet- I didn't understand it either.

For your first three years of teaching, you are technically on a probationary track. You are not guaranteed a job unless they ask you back at the end of the year. So each year is a new contract for you. You are evaluated/observed several times in the year. By your third year, you are observed and they evaluate whether or not you should be granted tenure. I think this works just about the same in every state but I can't be 100% sure. Once you are granted tenure, you pretty much have a permanent position within your school. There are, of course, exceptions with budget cuts and what not...

HTH!

Re: Dumb Question....

Tenure means job security basically. You can still be let go if you are tenured but untenured people go first.

It generally takes 3 years in NY not sure about other places

Re: Dumb Question....

I don't think every state has tenure. From what I understand it was a New York thing. I could be totally wrong but I was talking with a relative of Dh's from Minnesota and they had no idea what tenure was.

Re: Dumb Question....

It does vary by state. In CA it was 2 years before you had tenure, and it wasn't called tenure either, it was permanent employee as opposed to probational employee. Some states may not have it at all. Do you know any teachers in SC you can ask who'd be able to give you more info about how it works there?