1. (a) Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year and each year thereafter, each participating teacher shall be employed on a 189-day contract with the local board.

2. (b) After completion of a preliminary contract period, the local board, upon the recommendation of the local superintendent, shall do one of the following, and provide written notice to the participating teacher no later than June 30:

   1. 1. Offer the participating teacher another preliminary one-year contract, subject to the limitations in Section 16-13-334(b), or an advanced contract.
   2. 2. Nonrenew the teacher’s preliminary contract and employment entirely, without a stated reason.
   3. 3. Nonrenew the teacher’s preliminary contract without a stated reason, and reemploy the teacher in any position outside of the program.
3. (c) If no action is taken by June 30 of the year the preliminary contract expires, the teacher’s contract shall be deemed renewed for one year subject to the limitations in Section 16-13-334(b). If the teacher has reached the maximum number of three or six year preliminary contract years pursuant to Section 16-13-334(b) and fails to qualify for an advanced contract as provided in Section 16-13-334(c), he or she shall be deemed nonrenewed, subject to Section 16-13-338.

4. (d) After completion of an advanced contract period, the local board, upon the recommendation of the local superintendent, shall do one of the following, and provide written notice to the participating teacher no later than June 30:

   1. (1) Offer the participating teacher another advanced contract of up to three years subject to Section 16-13-334(c).
   2. (2) Nonrenew the teacher’s advanced contract and employment entirely for any stated reason.
   3. (3) Nonrenew the teacher’s advanced contract for any stated reason, and reemploy the teacher in any position outside the program.
5. (e) If no action is taken by June 30 of the year the contract expires, the teacher’s contract shall be deemed renewed for three years subject to the provisions of Section 16-13-334(c).
6. (f) The decision to nonrenew the contract may be based on any reason except personal or political reasons. A teacher with an advanced contract may challenge the nonrenewal by filing a petition with the department within 10 days of receipt of the written notice of nonrenewal. The only issue to be determined by the department shall be whether the nonrenewal was for personal or political reasons. The teacher shall bear the burden of establishing that the nonrenewal was based on a personal or political reason.
7. (g) Any notice required under this article shall be provided to the participating teacher either by personal service, certified mail, or private mail carrier return receipt requested.

(Act 2021-340, §8.)