Expert: Stephanie R - 4/4/2006

Question
Hello..I don't know if you know the answer to this or not....But if a credentialled teacher first time teacher signs a contract for a year, and he finishes the contract for that year, but does not get asked back to teach---does this mean he is FIRED and it goes on his record?  or not getting asked back, does that mean the contract is ended and you can NOT collect unemployment at all? thanks....(from California)

Answer
Dear Angie,

Great question. This actually just came up in a discussion with another teacher friend of mine. Now you would have to check and read California's teacher contract because I am in Florida and things might be different here! Do you have a teacher's union? See, here in Florida, you sign a contract for  3 years. The first 90 days of employment you can be asked to leave. It is not being fired. Firing in a school district is a long long process that takes up to 2 years (here in FL.. again, it may differ in CA). Termination is reccommended by the principal then proposed to the school board for decision. It is a long drawn out documented process, and should be the same in most states. After the contract is up, a principal can reccomend a teacher for tenure. If he/she chooses not to renew the contract after the 3 years, the teacher is then transferred to another SCHOOL... but is still EMPLOYED in the DISTRICT. Once you are hired in the district, you are an employee of the district, not the individual schools. Now again, that's how it is in FL. I would look at your district. Call human resources and find out what the policy is. Hope this helps!

Stephanie