SB3816 Summary

• Effective September 1, 2020, teacher evaluation ratings are reclassified: "excellent," "proficient," and "needs improvement" ratings become "effective"; "unsatisfactory" ratings become "ineffective."

• Teachers previously rated as "unsatisfactory" or "ineffective" are subject to modified dismissal procedures under new evaluation standards, with changes to probationary periods and contractual continued service requirements.

• Requires school districts to develop local appeal processes for "unsatisfactory" or "ineffective" ratings, including assessment by qualified evaluators with power to revoke erroneous ratings.

• Modifies dismissal sequence groupings in honorable dismissals: eliminates the highest-performing "grouping 4" effective September 1, 2020, and simplifies dismissal order based on performance evaluation ratings and length of service.

• Takes effect immediately upon becoming law, with September 1, 2020 as the implementation date for the new two-category teacher evaluation system.