Teachers plead for new dismissal rights

ATLANTA - The Legislature has taken a first step toward dismantling former Governor Roy Barnes&#39; education reform package. <br> <br> A group of lawmakers Tuesday suggested new rules for dismissing teachers. <br> <br> A House education subcommittee unanimously voted to undo a dismissal procedure passed in 2000. That plan was aimed at getting incompetent teachers out of schools, but teachers complained it was an abbreviated firing process that took away their right to dispute charges. <br> <br> Under the plan approved Tuesday, a teacher with four consecutive years of service would be protected from firing without a hearing. Those teachers would still have to request a hearing in writing. <br> <br> The matter now goes before the full education committee, which is expected to approve it.