SB353 Summary

• Amends Section 16-1-33 of the Alabama Code to strengthen requirements for local school board reduction-in-force (layoff) policies for teachers and administrators.

• Prohibits seniority from being the most significant factor in reduction-in-force decisions beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year.

• Requires by the 2016-2017 academic year that employee performance evaluations including objective measures of student growth become a significant factor in layoff decisions, with seniority explicitly not substituting for demonstrated instructional quality.

• Allows consideration of advanced degrees only if they are in the employee's subject matter or early childhood education, and prohibits employee salary from influencing reduction-in-force decisions.

• Mandates that all reduction-in-force policies comply with state and federal antidiscrimination laws, rules, and regulations.