Missouri senators step back from eliminating tenure

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri senators have stepped back for now from an effort to abolish tenure for public school teachers.

Senate debate on phasing out tenure ended Tuesday with a 17-15 vote to keep tenure in place while creating a task force to examine teacher pay and effectiveness.

Opponents of tenure contend it protects poor teachers by making it too expensive and time-consuming to replace them. Schools seeking to remove a tenured teacher must provide written charges specifying the grounds for dismissal and offer a hearing.

___

Teacher tenure is SB806

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov