Based on interviews with teacher's union representatives, teachers, school board officials, and school administrators, this article considers what tenure actually is, how it developed, how much job security it provides, key points in the tenure debate, the role of unions and contract tenure, and the need for tenure laws today. (Author/SJL)

Contracts that base the compensation and job security of teachers on seniority may promote the goals of public education more effectively than performance-based contracts. Public school teaching is a very complex process requiring constant adaptation to changing students, situations, methods, and dynamics. Measurement of teacher performance under…