Teacher evaluations, job security would change under House ed bill

Minnesota House Republicans passed a sweeping K-12 education funding bill early Wednesday. While the bill would increase the state's per-pupil payments, it also makes major changes to how public schools operate.

The legislation also curbs collective bargaining rights by banning teacher strikes, and ending the tenure system in favor of five-year contracts.

And, under the bill, teacher evaluations would be based on their students' test scores.

Sandi Jacobs with the National Council on Teacher Quality helped shape the policies outlined in the education bill. The Council is a non-partisan national think tank focused on education issues.

Jacobs says the move away from tenure and towards set contracts is becoming more prevalent nationwide. She spoke with MPR's Tom Crann.