Just a few years ago, tenure appeared low on the reform list for state policy makers and district administrators, viewed as too hot an issue politically to challenge. But it was front and center in the 2014 landmark "Vergara v. California" lawsuit, which challenged teacher tenure and related policies. Yet whether to grant tenure or not is the wrong question. The right question is: How can states ensure that districts make good tenure decisions for teachers who are proven effective, while providing support and appropriate due process rights to ineffective teachers? Being able to evaluate and differentiate teacher performance reliably and consistently with clear criteria that include measures of how well teachers move students forward academically marks an important shift in thinking.