Colorado Teachers Suing Over 2010 Tenure Law

DENVER (AP) - Colorado's largest teachers union says it is suing over a 2010 law that gives educators a new rating system.

The education law includes a statewide teacher-grading system that sorts educators from "highly effective" to "ineffective." Teachers with too many consecutive low ratings could lose tenure, while new teachers and those on probationary status will need passing marks before achieving tenure, or non-probationary status.

The Colorado Education Association says the law has "proven flaws." The union announced the intention to file the lawsuit Tuesday but didn't elaborate which parts of the law they would challenge. The union said it would announce more details Wednesday.

The teachers' group says it is also backing new legislation to change the law. The effectiveness ratings began for all 178 Colorado school districts this fall.

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