An increasing number of states are mandating teacher performance be considered in educator employment decisions, including awarding tenure and layoffs, according to a 50-state policy review of teacher tenure laws. Tenure laws have historically granted job protections based on years of employment. The Education Commission of the States (ECS) released its last report on tenure laws in 2011 and reviewed reduction-in-force laws in 2012. This 2014 update gauges national trends on how tenure is changing across the states. The following contents are presented in this report: (1) Revisiting teacher tenure; (2) Using performance evaluations in tenure decisions; (3) Returning non-probationary teachers to probationary status; (4) Basing teacher layoff decisions on performance ratings; and (5) Defining tenure: What it is, what it's not and how it's granted.