In and editorial on Sunday, January 15, the Washington Post came out in support of Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's plan to eliminate continuing contract for teachers, saying that it is "akin to tenure." FEA President Michael Hairston wrote a letter to the editor explaining that under continuing contract teachers are evluated regularly and poor performing teachers can be dismissed or non-renewed. Virginia teachers do not have "tenure."
The Washington Post editorial can be viewed here.
President Hairston wrote this in response to the Post editorial:
Dear Editor:

The members of the Fairfax Education Association support a due process procedure that results in high-quality instruction for students, and that is fair to teachers (January 15, The governor’s plan for education).

Under current law, teachers have a three-year probationary period to prove themselves.  Only after a school administrator determines that a teacher has successfully passed this probation does that teacher earn continuing contract.

Once teachers gain continuing contract status, they still are evaluated regularly and must show evidence of continued professional growth.  What continuing contract does is provide a due process procedure in which allegations against an educator can be tested for their accuracy and truthfulness.

The word “tenure,” which is not used in Virginia law, is interpreted by many as “a job for life.”  That is not something we have in Virginia.  Every year, underperforming teachers are non-renewed or dismissed.  “Guaranteed lifetime employment” for a teacher in the commonwealth is a myth.

FEA/VEA works on behalf of our members to make sure that no one is fired for an illegitimate reason, such as refusing to change a student’s grade or voicing their opinion about a curriculum choice.  
Sincerely,

Michael Hairston
President, Fairfax Education Association