Dismissal for Poor Performance: Michigan

Analysis of Michigan's policies

New legislation in Michigan identifies classroom ineffectiveness as grounds for dismissal. "If a teacher is rated as ineffective on three consecutive annual year-end evaluations," the district shall dismiss the teacher. Nonprobationary teachers have the opportunity to request a review of the evaluation and rating within 20 days of being informed of the rating. Only two reviews can be requested every three school years.

In Michigan, tenured teachers who are terminated may appeal multiple times. After receiving written notice of dismissal, the teacher has 20 days to file the first appeal with the tenure commission; the hearing must be concluded within 75 days. The teacher may then file an additional appeal with the court of appeals within 20 days. The state does not specify a time frame for this appeal.

Citation

Michigan Teacher Tenure Act 38.101; 104 HB 4625; HB 4627

Recommendations for Michigan

Ensure that teachers terminated for poor performance have the opportunity to appeal within a reasonable time frame.
Nonprobationary teachers who are dismissed for any grounds, including ineffectiveness, are entitled to due process. However, cases that drag on for years drain resources from school districts and create a disincentive for districts to attempt to terminate poor performers. Therefore, the state must ensure that the opportunity to appeal occurs only once and only at the district level. It is in the best interest of both the teacher and the district that a conclusion be reached within a reasonable time frame.

State response to our analysis

Michigan disagreed with the characterization that a tenured teacher "may appeal multiple times."  The state asserted that teachers have one appeal to the state tenure commission, which may be appealed to the courts. Michigan has streamlined the appeal process by bypassing the circuit court and making the appeal directly to the court of appeals. That appeal is "on leave granted," meaning that the court of appeals does not have to take the appeal. In fact, the state added, the court often denies leave to appeal in most tenure cases. In any case, it is one appeal with a right of review by the court, which is standard practice in any administrative appeal.

The state also asserted that probationary teachers are "at-will" employees. The courts have held that tenure in Michigan is a property right requiring due process before it can be taken away. Probationary teachers have not acquired this property right entitling them to due process protections. In addition, the state noted that cases do not "drag on for years" as under the recent legislation there are strict time lines at the administrative level and, in the majority of cases, the court of appeals denies leave. If a tenured teacher files an appeal, the determination occurs at the state level, not the district level—although the district begins the process by filing charges against a teacher. The decision to have the state, and not the local district, make the determination was decided by both school districts and teachers to be the best and most efficient way to handle tenure appeals. (Prior to 1993, the local board held tenure hearings.)

Last word

Michigan's statute clearly allows for an appeal to the tenure commission as well as an additional appeal to the court of appeals. This second appeal could be an appeal of the commission's decision, not an appeal for violations of due process. And while Michigan has a clear timeline for the appeals process with its tenure commission, by allowing an appeal to go to the court, the state has no assurance that a decision will be made in a timely manner.