Update Friday 4:50 p.m.
DENVER (AP) — A proposed overhaul of Colorado's teacher tenure law has cleared its first hurdle.
The Senate Education Committee approved a bill Friday that would make tenure available only to teachers who have improved student performance for three straight years.
Teachers who have tenure could lose it if their students fail to show progress for two straight years.
The teachers' union says the bill doesn't provide training for principals who will be evaluating teachers and hasn't determined how teachers will be judged.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Original story
DENVER (AP) — Teachers are voicing their opposition to a proposed overhaul of the state's teacher tenure law.
Members of the state's largest teachers' union plan to rally outside the state Capitol Friday, just hours before lawmakers are set to take their first vote on the bill. The Colorado Education Association says it expects to have about 600 people on the West Steps.
The bill would only allow teachers who have improved student performance for three straight years to earn tenure. Teachers who have tenure could lose it if their students fail to show progress for two straight years.
The union says the bill doesn't provide training and support for principals who will be evaluating teachers. It also objects because details about how teachers will be judged haven't been determined.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)