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More NYC Public School Teachers Denied Tenure Increased This Year

There was an increase in public school teachers denied tenure in 2010.
There was an increase in public school teachers denied tenure in 2010.
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Theseus Roche

By Della Hasselle

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — More New York City public school teachers were denied tenure this year after Chancellor Joel Klein’s request that ineffective teachers are rid from the system.

The increase was small — 3.7 percent of those at the end of their three-year probation weren’t granted tenure, versus 2.3 percent from last year. Principles awarded tenure to fewer than half the teachers whose students did poorly on state tests, the New York Times reported.

The data was only available for math and English teachers that instruct fourth through eighth grades.

“This is part of a process of a culture shift of using evidence of student learning to make decisions for the school,” deputy chancellor John White told the Times. “Principals know best who is high performing in their school and who should be in front of a classroom teaching.”

Some state officials, however, said the tenure decisions were based on inflated test results, according to the Times. They say that the 2009 tests were easy and had liberal scoring, while the 2010 tests have a tougher grading standard.