Cortines has said he wants effective teachers in every classroom and has created a task force of educators, union leaders, parents and community members to determine the way forward in effective instruction. However, he said there needs to be reform on a broader statewide level to achieve the goals established by the task force.
Cortines' suggested reforms include revising the evaluation system for teachers to make it easier to terminate ineffective teachers, extending the current two-year teacher probation period to four years before granting permanent tenure and allowing school districts to prioritize layoffs to prevent an exodus from disadvantaged schools which are often staffed by newer teachers who are the first to be terminated during budget cuts.
Cortines announced in July he plans to retire by next spring.
