School Law Bulletin #1999/04

IN 1997 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, in passing the Excellent Schools Act, made significant changes in all aspects of public school employment: teacher prepara- tion and certification, performance evaluation, acquisi- tion of tenure, employee demotions and suspensions, dismissal procedures, and salaries. In 1998, through a hodgepodge of session laws and special provisions in the Appropriations Act, the General Assembly modified some of its 1997 innovations, such as the requirement of a general knowledge test for some teachers. It also added some new elements—provisions for the employment of uncertified teachers, for example. This article outlines those modifications and additions as they relate to public school employment.