Can I Quit an Arizona Teaching Job Mid-Year? | Arizona Teachers
Can a teacher break their contract or terminate their contract mid-year?
We’re talking specifically in the state of Arizona. And the answer is usually, no, you cannot.
There are a few exceptions, but typically, a teacher in Arizona is hired for the entire school year in Arizona. You’ll normally receive your contract before the school year starts, sometimes even in February. You’ll sign that agreement for the next school year; therefore, it is binding.
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Financial Consequences If The Teacher Terminates the Teaching Contract Mid-Year
Sometimes there are even financial consequences. A liquidated damages clause within your employment agreement with your school district could state if you break this contract.
You will be required to pay them an amount. Sometimes it depends on how much your salary is. And other times, there’s a specific amount. Even further than that, you are at your school district’s mercy to be released from your contract.
An Act of Unprofessional Conduct
If they do not release you and you still break the contract, you leave mid-year. It can be considered unprofessional conduct by the state board and your licensing board in Arizona.
So, your school district may report or file a complaint against you for doing this. If that happens, the State Board of Education may open an investigation, and there may even be some penalty for your license.
Unprofessional conduct is a big catchall that Arizona’s Board of Education considers mitigating circumstances. And so, what does that mean? It means the circumstances around this. Did you leave because you wanted a better job or family issues? You’re leaving the teaching profession; the school district is breaching the contract.
There are lots of factors, and it can get complicated.
Generally, it’s best not to break your contract mid-year unless there are some extreme circumstances. I would always recommend advising an attorney before doing this just because of the financial consequences.
There could be consequences against your license. So, it would help if you wanted to handle this correctly. And I’m speaking about public school districts. K-12 charter schools can sometimes be a little different from private schools. But usually, all their contracts are for the entire school year.
Do You Have to Complete Your Entire School Year Contract?
It usually starts in August and then ends at the end of May. There will be dates there. And there’s no without-cause termination. That’s what it’s called whenever you give your notice that you are terminating your contract.
Of teaching contracts, 99% do not have this in public schools in Arizona. So, you must fulfill your contract for the rest of the school year. Now, if you want not to come back, you can always give notice of intent not to renew or don’t sign the next contract whenever the employer presents it. That’s the best practice.
But as I know, and I’ve talked to many clients, you don’t have crystal balls. You don’t know what’s in the future. Things may come up whenever you sign these employment contracts, and it’s just not feasible for you to stay there.
And because there’s such a mass exodus of educators leaving school districts, they’re becoming more and more strict about enforcing their contracts. You want to be very careful.
So, can a teacher break their contract midyear? They can, but there will be many consequences, possibly financial and action against their teaching license.
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