DISCHARGE
Any probationary contract employee may be discharged at any time for good cause as determined by the Board. “Good cause” is the failure to meet the accepted standards of conduct for the profession as generally recognized and applied in similarly situated school districts in Texas. Education Code 21.104(a)
NOTICE TO SBEC
(See policy DF regarding circumstances in which a certified employee’s dismissal must be reported to the State Board of Educator Certification.) Note: See DF regarding circumstances in which a certified employee’s dismissal must be reported to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).
SUSPENSION
The Board delegates to the Superintendent, authority to suspend for good causes defined above, a probationary contract employee without pay in lieu of discharge or pending discharge. The period of suspension may not exceed beyond the end of the current school year. Education Code 21.104(b)
NOTICE
Before any probationary contract employee is dismissed or suspended without pay for good cause, the employee shall be given reasonable notice in writing of the charges against him or her and an explanation of the School’s evidence, set out in sufficient detail to fairly enable the employee to show any error that may exist. Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, 105 S.Ct. 1487 (1985)
HEARING
If the employee is protesting proposed action to suspend or terminate a probationary contract for good cause, under Education Code 21.104, the employee is entitled to a hearing before an independent hearing examiner under Education Code Chapter 21, Subchapter F [see DFD].
If a probationary contract employee who has received notice of proposed termination desires a hearing before an independent hearing examiner, the employee must file a written request with the commissioner of education not later than the 15th day after the date the employee receives notice of the proposed termination. The employee must provide the School with a copy of the request and must provide the commissioner with a copy of the notice.
EXCEPTION
If the employee is protesting proposed action to terminate a probationary contract before the end of the contract period on the basis of a financial exigency declared under Education Code 44.011 [see CEA], the employee is entitled to a hearing in the manner provided under Education Code 21.207 for nonrenewal of a term contract [see DFBB] or a hearing under Education Code Chapter 21, Subchapter F, as determined by the Board. Education Code 21.1041
Adopted: 11/17/95
Amended: 11/30/01, 1/24/02, 4/1/05, 4/5/13, 1/31/20
Reviewed: 1/26/99