This monograph is intended to aid school board members and school administrators in understanding the legal requirements and implications of teacher dismissal and nonrenewal proceedings. The first section examines the legal requirements governing teacher dismissal and nonrenewal in a variety of circumstances, focusing in turn on dismissal during the term of a contract, contract nonrenewal in the first year of employment, nonrenewal in the second or third year of employment, and nonrenewal after three or more years of employment. The second section, which makes up most of the monograph, summarizes eight court cases relevant to teacher dismissal and nonrenewal. The appendix presents the New Hampshire State Board of Education's policy governing administrative hearing procedures, model rules and procedures for local school board dismissal hearings, and a model record of a local school board's hearing and decision in a teacher dismissal case. Although the monograph is designed for use by school officials in New Hampshire, much of its content will be of use to those in other states as well. (JG)