* School reform will likely pass the Senate soon, but without any of the hostile craziness which has accompanied similar labor issues in other states. As subscribers knew yesterday morning, an agreement was reached late Tuesday night after months of negotiations, which were chaired by Sen. Kimberly Lighford…

Lightford said they reached two separate sets of regulations regarding school strikes, one for Chicago and another for the suburbs and Downstate. Both would require several steps, including airing out their sides before an arbitrator, before moving forward with a strike, she said.

One key change for Chicago is a requirement that 75 percent of Chicago Teachers Union would have to vote to go on strike, a higher standard necessary because Chicago has so many more children and teachers impacted by a strike, Lightford said. […]

A second major change would loosen the seniority standard that determines who gets laid off and make it easier to dump a teacher based on performance, Lightford said. The move would address the notion that it is tough to dismiss poor-performing teachers because of their seniority, she said. […]

Under the proposal school districts also would be able to set a length of school day or lengthen the school year without having to negotiate those time periods, she said. Unions still would be able to negotiate for more pay or benefits if more time in the classroom is added, she said.

* The legislation can be read by clicking here. The unions met with House Speaker Michael Madigan yesterday to urge him to sign on to the agreement. Madigan made no commitments, but it’s believed most of it will survive…

Through the months, key House members were kept updated on the talks. Rep. Marlow Colvin, a Chicago Democrat on the House Elementary and Secondary Committee, said it was “too early to tell” how the legislation would be accepted in the House.

“But the appetite to get something done on education reform is clear,” Colvin said. “The House hasn’t had a really good look at it, and given the divergent opinions of the larger (House) chamber that’s twice the size (of the Senate), it’s hard to say.”

* The political angle…

The proposal wraps up months of negotiations between self-proclaimed education reformers, such as Stand for Children and Advance Illinois, and interest groups such as the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Education Association, the Chicago Teachers Union, groups representing school administrators and boards and lawmakers. The talks have been led by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Chicago.

Stand for Children became a key player in state legislative races last year when it dumped more than $600,000 into candidates’ campaign funds. Much of that money went to Democrats.

Robin Steans, executive director of Advance Illinois, acknowledged the role Stand for Children’s bank account played in the effort. However, she also cited the federal Race to the Top program, in which states competed for federal money based on their willingness to reform their education laws.

“You bring in a new player with some dollars to put behind education reform, so you have a lot of good and strong conditions and they remain in place,” she said.

* From a Stand for Children press release…

Reforming tenure

* Ensuring tenure decisions will be based on performance evaluations by requiring teachers to earn two proficient or excellent ratings in years two through four of the probationary period, with a proficient or excellent rating in the fourth year. No longer will teachers automatically receive tenure after four years in the classroom regardless of performance.
* Providing fair and efficient dismissals of tenured teachers by streamlining the dismissal process of tenured teachers in situations related to conduct and performance dismissal decisions.

Making performance count, rather than seniority

* Allowing districts across the state to make layoff decisions based on performance before seniority. Allows districts to match teachers’ qualifications to the positions they will hold and ensures that teachers with poor performance evaluations are laid-off prior to more effective teachers.
* Currently seniority is used as the primary criterion for filling new and vacant positions across the state (with the exception of Chicago Public Schools, which already fills positions based on merit and ability). Under SB 7 school districts will now be allowed to fill positions based on certifications, qualifications, performance, merit, ability and relevant experience with seniority only used as a tie-breaker.
* If a teacher receives two unsatisfactory ratings within a seven-year period, the State Superintendent will have the authority to revoke a certificate or require professional development.

Improving Learning Conditions

* A survey of learning conditions will be administered to teachers and students every two years beginning in 2012-2013.
* School board members will be required to complete four hours of training.

* The Tribune praised much of the deal, but got hung up on the strike provision…

One great, big vulnerability in this package: It still allows teachers to walk out of their classrooms and head to the picket line. Teaches perform an essential public service, and when they’re on strike, their students suffer. Emanuel wanted to prohibit strikes by teachers, but he didn’t get it. And that’s a red flag as he moves to bring in aggressive new leadership and address a financial crisis at Chicago Public Schools.

The proposed law does set a higher bar for a job action. Authorization for a strike in Chicago would require approval from 75 percent of active union members, rather than a majority. The legislature should set an even higher bar for job actions by professional educators.

Not mentioned by the Tribune is that the strike clause also requires tons of mediation and public disclosures before a strike could be voted on. And three-quarters of all union members would have to vote to strike, not just three-fourths of those voting. That’s a pretty darned high standard.

* Related…

* Sweeping changes proposed to how IL teachers are hired, fired - Seniority is out, teacher performance is in.

* Sweeping school reform bill targets school day, strikes, bad teachers

* A look at the school reform bill

* Bills on Chicago school vouchers, facilities head for key votes

* Stacking the Odds in Favor of Charter Schools - Charters unload problem students onto neighboring public schools - then reap the benefits.