An analysis by Senate Republicans found that 100% of Minnesota teacher contracts examined use seniority as the primary factor in teacher layoff decisions. These findings debunk recent claims by Governor Dayton, the Department of Education, and the state’s teachers’ union that 40% of Minnesota school districts use factors other than seniority as a basis for teacher layoff decisions.

Some districts consider other factors, but only in the case of a tie in seniority. Even then, few schools choose teacher performance as the primary tiebreaker in cases of equal seniority, mostly relying other factors such as highest salary placement, years of experience in the district, and total years of teaching experience. Three school districts break a seniority tie with a coin flip, and one resorts to drawing lots. Contracts were requested from every school district and 301 contracts were obtained, representing 91% of Minnesota school districts.

“Until recently, there was no uniform teacher evaluation process, which could be one reason school districts haven’t typically used performance as a primary factor in their layoff policies. Now that teacher evaluations are in place statewide, there’s really no excuse not to keep our best teachers in the classroom,” said Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake).

The comprehensive review of teacher layoff policies demonstrates a considerably different reality than portrayed by the state’s teachers’ union and DFL leadership. Just this week, the Willmar School District laid off over a quarter of its teaching force. According to the district’s union contract, the primary factor in choosing which teachers received pink slips was seniority. Tellingly, none of the district’s tenured teachers were affected.

Currently, state law dictates that teacher layoff decisions must be based solely on seniority unless local unions allow other factors to be considered. Senator Pratt is the author of a bill in the Senate (S.F. 473) that would allow school districts to include teacher performance as part of that consideration.

“The assertion that these Last-In-First-Out policies doesn’t affect Minnesota students is just plain wrong,” added Senator Pratt. “I’ve talked to a lot of parents who are astounded their child’s favorite teacher could be let go for no reason other than they were hired at a later date than another, less skilled, teacher. It’s time we change that mindset, because doing what’s in our students’ best interest should be at the center of every education decision.”