Senate Bill 284 Summary

• Removes requirement that a teacher's primary responsibility must be instruction of students from the definition of "teacher" in Indiana Code.

• Changes contract cancellation language from "decline to continue" to "cancel" for probationary teachers who receive ineffective designations, two consecutive "improvement necessary" ratings, or face justified reductions in teaching positions.

• Limits evaluation provisions to apply only to teachers rather than all certificated employees, and modifies the definition of "evaluator" to include teachers meeting specific effectiveness standards.

• Requires contract cancellations due to justified decreases in teaching positions to be determined by performance rather than seniority as of July 1, 2012.

• Changes the evidentiary standard in contract cancellation hearings from "preponderance of the evidence" to "substantial evidence" for certain grounds and extends conference rights to principals and superintendents.