HB 5473 Summary

• Prohibits school districts from using seniority or tenure as the primary factor in personnel decisions (layoffs, recalls, hiring) for teachers, requiring instead that effectiveness be measured through performance evaluations based on individual performance, accomplishments, training, and student growth.

• Modifies teacher evaluation systems to rate teachers as effective, minimally effective, or ineffective (removing "highly effective" category) and requires student growth data to comprise 40% of evaluations beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, with specific attention to evidence of student learning growth.

• Establishes requirements for early literacy coaches and reading intervention programs in grades K-3, including approved reading assessments, individual reading improvement plans for students with deficiencies, and literacy coaching for teachers.

• Implements grade 3 reading proficiency gate beginning in 2019-2020: students must demonstrate grade 3 reading level on state assessments or through alternative assessments/portfolios to advance to grade 4, with specific good cause exemptions for special education students, English language learners, and others.

• Modifies teacher certification requirements to mandate at least 3 years of classroom teaching experience and effective performance ratings before issuing professional teaching certificates, and requires "highly effective" ratings in recent years for advanced professional education certificates.