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Colorado Moving Ahead With 4-Tier Teacher Ratings

DENVER (AP) - Colorado education officials have finished work on teacher rating system that could make it easier to fire teachers who don't meet testing standards.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the system Wednesday. The standards in the works for months create a four-tier grading system for teachers and principals. The grades are "highly effective," "effective," "partially effective" and "ineffective."

Educators rated "ineffective" for two consecutive years would lose tenure. New teachers would need three consecutive years of "effective" ratings to make tenure.

The standards won't be in place for many just yet. They will be tested at pilot schools, and state lawmakers have to sign off next year.

LINK:  Colorado's Draft Teacher Standards

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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