Certificated school employees: probationary employees.
The bill modifies several sections of the Education Code and introduces new provisions that facilitate the process for probationary employees working less than full-time or in adult education programs to be classified as having served a complete school year. Furthermore, the bill repeals restrictions that prevented certain types of instructional service from counting towards the tenure of certificated employees. This broad integration of protections for probationary employees across various educational settings is expected to streamline the classification process and enhance job security for educators.
Assembly Bill No. 2682, introduced by Assembly Member Medina, aims to amend existing laws concerning certificated school employees, particularly focusing on the classification of probationary employees as permanent staff. The bill proposes that any certificated employee who completes two consecutive school years and is reelected in a position requiring certification will automatically be classified as a permanent employee, regardless of the school district's average daily attendance. This change is a significant shift from the previous requirements, which favored larger districts with student attendance over 250, allowing smaller districts more flexibility only under certain conditions.
The most notable point of contention regarding AB 2682 arises from its potential impact on existing collective bargaining agreements. The bill specifies that its provisions will not apply to districts until the expiration of any collective bargaining agreements made prior to January 1, 2021. Stakeholders, including school administrators and educational unions, may debate the implications of this measure, especially regarding collective bargaining rights and the potential increase in costs associated with higher permanent staff levels in districts already under financial strain.