Abstract
Research problem. The provisions of Senate Bill 813 (SB 813) regarding the non-reelection of probationary teachers without cause and the change in the probationary period from three to two years were written into law in July of 1983. The Court of Appeals' decision in California Teachers Association et al., Grimsley v. Board of Trustees of Muroc Joint Unified School District clarified these new provisions in March of 1987. Given this clarification in legislative intent the question is now whether, in fact, educators are actually using these provisions of SB 813. Methodology. Descriptive research was used. A questionnaire was developed and sent out to 79 administrators who have the district responsibility for managing certificated personnel. A total population of 782 school districts in California was used to randomly select the 79 participating school districts. Eighty-two percent of the districts in the study returned their questionnaire. To answer the research questions non-parametric analyses were selected and computed. Significant differences in item responses were tested with chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H analyses for size and type of school district. Major finding. The field experience of California school districts regarding the provisions of the probationary dismissal/non-reelection language in SB 813 parallels the intent of the legislature. Conclusions. The findings indicated that since SB 813: the cumbersome and costly "due process" requirements of school districts in dismissing probationary teachers has decreased; school districts were given flexibility and complete discretion in granting tenure, thereby making the probationary period meaningful; and it was the perception of managers of personnel that SB 813 probationary teacher non-reelection provisions helped improve student learning. Recommendations. It is recommended that legislators gather objective data on the effects of existing educational law before changes are proposed. It is also recommended that school districts in California exercise the authority granted by the probationary teacher dismissal/non-reelection provisions of SB 813 to release incompetent teachers.