Can a teacher be demoted without due process?
The Teacher Tenure Act defines demotion as any reduction in salary or transfer to a lower salaried position unless requested by the teacher or unless the salary reduction is applicable to all teachers in the same classification. In addition, cases interpreting the act have deemed it a demotion if a teacher is retained at the same salary while other teachers in the same classification are awarded raises. A school district may not take such action unless it first provides the teacher notice of the action it intends to take, its reasons for proposing the action and an opportunity to be heard by the school board.
