Schools Without Teachers for 2014-15?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is not a situation unique to charters. In lots of public school systems, current teachers wait until right before the start of the school year to quit so they can keep their health insurance over the summer and because *they* didn't get hired until right before the new school year.

My brother is a teacher in a well-regarded suburban district in the DC area, and that's how he got his job--first hired as a long-term sub for someone who quit a few days before school started, and then they made it permanent.

It depends on where they are going. Several Northern Va schools systems have a no poaching rule with each other and in their counties. There is a specific deadline when a teacher can inform her/his school that he/she is looking or has another job lined up. Sort of like an open season.

The problem is as a pop said some teachers wait until the last minute to sever their contract so they can keep their benefits.

In DC you get a thousand dollar bonus if you announce you are severing your contract before the end if April and a thousand dollar penalty if you leave DCPS afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And this is what school reformers want to do to public school, basically turn the teaching profession into a temporary job. Welcome to our Brave New World.

Plus convince us that any TFA teacher can become highly effective in one year. We don't need any evil Union s incentivizing teachers to stay in their profession and get adequately compensated for their hard work and expertise as long as there is a steady stream of college grads willing to work for 30k and crap benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter schools notoriously have extremely high turnover. It's a natural consequence of the charter school philosophy. So if you chose a charter school you assume that risk.

We were accepted into a charter, though I'm not comfortable with very high turnover. Why do charter school teachers leave more than DCPS teachers? Is it the money? You mentioned philosophy. How is that different.

I have a child going into preschool. Doesn't seem healthy to have teachers come and go so often.

I would recommend you check at the individual school level. There is a lot of variability between schools, some of which find it much easier to keep their staff. I wouldn't expect that to be reflected on this thread though, which is likely mostly a crew of union types on an anti-charter crusade. Many teachers prefer charters because some of them offer much better working conditions than DCPS does (specifically in terms of the student populations). In any event, it's pretty easy to ask the school admin and the current parents.

[Anonymous]

Teachers change schools for many reasons - location of school, looking for a change, being involuntarily transferred due to not enough students in the grade they want, change in administration (a principal leaving can cause loyal teachers to leave or follow the principal to new school), how they are being treated by admin or parents, school not having a warm atmosphere, level of paperwork, etc, etc.
It's the schools with the consistent high turnover that should raise a red flag. It means something isn't right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter schools notoriously have extremely high turnover. It's a natural consequence of the charter school philosophy. So if you chose a charter school you assume that risk.

We were accepted into a charter, though I'm not comfortable with very high turnover. Why do charter school teachers leave more than DCPS teachers? Is it the money? You mentioned philosophy. How is that different.

I have a child going into preschool. Doesn't seem healthy to have teachers come and go so often.

I would recommend you check at the individual school level. There is a lot of variability between schools, some of which find it much easier to keep their staff. I wouldn't expect that to be reflected on this thread though, which is likely mostly a crew of union types on an anti-charter crusade. Many teachers prefer charters because some of them offer much better working conditions than DCPS does (specifically in terms of the student populations). In any event, it's pretty easy to ask the school admin and the current parents.

Please consider that a teacher leaving a school because of poor pay and lack of security is not necessary an anti-charter union type. Could be a teacher legitimately unhappy with her situation.

Ever hear of US government workers? Do you think everyone who leaves private industry for a better deal in the government is a shirker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers change schools for many reasons - location of school, looking for a change, being involuntarily transferred due to not enough students in the grade they want, change in administration (a principal leaving can cause loyal teachers to leave or follow the principal to new school), how they are being treated by admin or parents, school not having a warm atmosphere, level of paperwork, etc, etc.
It's the schools with the consistent high turnover that should raise a red flag. It means something isn't right.

Seems that the charter school boards should provide data on faculty turnover, particularly when turnover is occurring during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter schools notoriously have extremely high turnover. It's a natural consequence of the charter school philosophy. So if you chose a charter school you assume that risk.

We were accepted into a charter, though I'm not comfortable with very high turnover. Why do charter school teachers leave more than DCPS teachers? Is it the money? You mentioned philosophy. How is that different.

I have a child going into preschool. Doesn't seem healthy to have teachers come and go so often.

I would recommend you check at the individual school level. There is a lot of variability between schools, some of which find it much easier to keep their staff. I wouldn't expect that to be reflected on this thread though, which is likely mostly a crew of union types on an anti-charter crusade. Many teachers prefer charters because some of them offer much better working conditions than DCPS does (specifically in terms of the student populations). In any event, it's pretty easy to ask the school admin and the current parents.

[Anonymous]

DCPS turnover is pretty high compared to other public school districts. I'm willing to bet that DC charter school turnover is much worse. But let's see some data. I'm particularly interested in the rates at which teachers leave charters for DCPS.

[Anonymous]

if charter schools treat their teachers so well, why so much turnover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS turnover is pretty high compared to other public school districts. I'm willing to bet that DC charter school turnover is much worse. But let's see some data. I'm particularly interested in the rates at which teachers leave charters for DCPS.

I'm sure that data exists or can be aggravated or tabulated. Getting it from DCPS might be difficult though. And if they just give a number -- don't believe it -- check the rase data yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS turnover is pretty high compared to other public school districts. I'm willing to bet that DC charter school turnover is much worse. But let's see some data. I'm particularly interested in the rates at which teachers leave charters for DCPS.

DCPS teacher here, the very interesting data would be the number of DCPS 'recruits' either from MOCO, FCPS, or charters- and how long they stay in the district. I have personally seen a lot of people come into DC for the allure of higher salaries- and they leave shortly after. To be a good teacher in DCPS you not only have to know your craft- but be able to put up with the instability/corruption/slow results of the the public school system here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if charter schools treat their teachers so well, why so much turnover?

They do treat their teachers well, that's why there's so little turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter schools notoriously have extremely high turnover. It's a natural consequence of the charter school philosophy. So if you chose a charter school you assume that risk.

We were accepted into a charter, though I'm not comfortable with very high turnover. Why do charter school teachers leave more than DCPS teachers? Is it the money? You mentioned philosophy. How is that different.

I have a child going into preschool. Doesn't seem healthy to have teachers come and go so often.

I would recommend you check at the individual school level. There is a lot of variability between schools, some of which find it much easier to keep their staff. I wouldn't expect that to be reflected on this thread though, which is likely mostly a crew of union types on an anti-charter crusade. Many teachers prefer charters because some of them offer much better working conditions than DCPS does (specifically in terms of the student populations). In any event, it's pretty easy to ask the school admin and the current parents.

Please consider that a teacher leaving a school because of poor pay and lack of security is not necessary an anti-charter union type. Could be a teacher legitimately unhappy with her situation.

Ever hear of US government workers? Do you think everyone who leaves private industry for a better deal in the government is a shirker?

You couldnt be more right about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if charter schools treat their teachers so well, why so much turnover?

They do treat their teachers well, that's why there's so little turnover.

Really it's all about the pay.

[Anonymous]

I have an idea -- ask teachers! An not only here on DCUM or in an article in which a few teachers are interviewed - but in an actual survey with teachers.

Neither DCPS nor the charters are going to sponsor such research, I suspect, because they fear the results might not mI have an idea -- ask teachers! An not only here on DCUM or in an article in which a few teachers are interviewed - but in an actual survey with teachers.

Neither DCPS nor the charters are going to sponsor such research, I suspect, because they fear the results might not make them look too good. But teacher satisfaction and turnover is certainly something worth knowing about for parents.ake them look too good. But teacher satisfaction and turnover is certainly something worth knowing about for parents