SA plan targets teacher performance

School principals in South Australia will have new powers to deal with underperforming teachers.

Under a new plan, the state government will place human resources specialists at all schools to provide performance feedback to teachers and principals.

They will assist principals in gathering evidence against teachers who aren't meeting standards.

Education Minister Susan Close says the plan will lift classroom results.

"A small number of teachers are not performing to expected standards and we need to provide principals with better support to manage any unsatisfactory performance," she said on Thursday.

"The end result will be faster, better outcomes and a higher standard of teaching overall, to the benefit of our children."

The chief executive of the Education Department has promised to take disciplinary action against teachers within three months of receiving a file of evidence.

Teachers would retain their existing employment conditions and protections, Ms Close said.