Working at a DC Charter School vs DCPS

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience working at a DC public school vs DCPS? Just curious to hear personal opinions. I know some schools have a much lower pay, but the charter schools I am looking at match more or less the DCPS salary.

[Anonymous]

Are you comparing just salary or total comp (retirement, health insurance, vacation/sick leave)?

[Anonymous]

I have only worked at charters but my impression is that it is much easier and quicker to get a job at a charter. Hours tend to be longer but depending on the school, the teaching environment can be a lot better with fewer red-tape bureaucratic demands of our time. For example, teacher evaluation tends to be very low-key and stress-free at my charter, versus a much more complicated system at DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you comparing just salary or total comp (retirement, health insurance, vacation/sick leave)?

actually looking more at work environment, testing, evaluations, etc. From what I've seen the benefits and salary at the schools I'm looking at are very similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you comparing just salary or total comp (retirement, health insurance, vacation/sick leave)?

actually looking more at work environment, testing, evaluations, etc. From what I've seen the benefits and salary at the schools I'm looking at are very similar.

Go for it, it all depends on the school! Many DCPS teachers work long long hours, especially at title I schools were there are few volunteers or resources so to get anything done depends on staff!

[Anonymous]

Charters, at least the one I worked at, don't recognize the union. So, if you're looking for that additional support, you won't find it there. Also, we were strongly discouraged to take leave as there was no pool of substitutes to call. In my experience, the testing environment was the same. Some charters are obsessed with doing well on tests and I know a few that dismissed 'ineffective' teachers when they didn't produce the interim results that were needed/wanted.

And,no, one does not have to be certified to teach at a charter - only "highly qualified."

[Anonymous]

It depends what you are looking for. No school is perfect. Is it location, pay, staff turnover, resources, principal, or something else that is driving your decision the most?

[Anonymous]

Are you a new teacher or experience? If you are new I would say go with a charter because many of them invest in training their teachers. Find one that does this. Find out their educational philosophy and if it aligns to yours. If you don't know what yours is then you first need to sit down and figure that out. If you do wind up going with DCPS as a new teacher then go with a struggling school. They will view you less as a liability then an established DCPS school that does well on tests. Even if you don't teach a testing grade in DCPS there is a trickle down mindset where even K teachers are being forced to teach in a way that is not developmentally appropriate for young children. This is done all in the name of test scores. DCPS IMPACT is no joke and if there is not a pay difference between the DCPS school and the charter school then again, go with the charter. DCPS union is pretty weak and rarely helps anyone so no need to worry about union protections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a new teacher or experience? If you are new I would say go with a charter because many of them invest in training their teachers. Find one that does this. Find out their educational philosophy and if it aligns to yours. If you don't know what yours is then you first need to sit down and figure that out. If you do wind up going with DCPS as a new teacher then go with a struggling school. They will view you less as a liability then an established DCPS school that does well on tests. Even if you don't teach a testing grade in DCPS there is a trickle down mindset where even K teachers are being forced to teach in a way that is not developmentally appropriate for young children. This is done all in the name of test scores. DCPS IMPACT is no joke and if there is not a pay difference between the DCPS school and the charter school then again, go with the charter. DCPS union is pretty weak and rarely helps anyone so no need to worry about union protections.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a new teacher or experience? If you are new I would say go with a charter because many of them invest in training their teachers. Find one that does this. Find out their educational philosophy and if it aligns to yours. If you don't know what yours is then you first need to sit down and figure that out. If you do wind up going with DCPS as a new teacher then go with a struggling school. They will view you less as a liability then an established DCPS school that does well on tests. Even if you don't teach a testing grade in DCPS there is a trickle down mindset where even K teachers are being forced to teach in a way that is not developmentally appropriate for young children. This is done all in the name of test scores. DCPS IMPACT is no joke and if there is not a pay difference between the DCPS school and the charter school then again, go with the charter. DCPS union is pretty weak and rarely helps anyone so no need to worry about union protections.

Thank you for the info! Would actaullly be making more at the charter vs Dcps now that everything has been finalized. Leaning towards the charter but I've always worked for a public school so I'm apprehensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a new teacher or experience? If you are new I would say go with a charter because many of them invest in training their teachers. Find one that does this. Find out their educational philosophy and if it aligns to yours. If you don't know what yours is then you first need to sit down and figure that out. If you do wind up going with DCPS as a new teacher then go with a struggling school. They will view you less as a liability then an established DCPS school that does well on tests. Even if you don't teach a testing grade in DCPS there is a trickle down mindset where even K teachers are being forced to teach in a way that is not developmentally appropriate for young children. This is done all in the name of test scores. DCPS IMPACT is no joke and if there is not a pay difference between the DCPS school and the charter school then again, go with the charter. DCPS union is pretty weak and rarely helps anyone so no need to worry about union protections.

Thank you for the info! Would actaullly be making more at the charter vs Dcps now that everything has been finalized. Leaning towards the charter but I've always worked for a public school so I'm apprehensive

How personally important is that role in your decision making? You would be working in public education on behalf of a private entity. You wouldn't be a public employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you comparing just salary or total comp (retirement, health insurance, vacation/sick leave)?

actually looking more at work environment, testing, evaluations, etc. From what I've seen the benefits and salary at the schools I'm looking at are very similar.

Work environment is going to depend a lot of which charter or DCPS school you work at. I worked at a charter for a year in DC as an experienced teacher and it was miserable, but I found a great fit in DCPS and I'm very happy. For me, the pay cut was absolutely worth having a better work-life balance. I can definitely give more specifics in regards to charter networks and teacher satisfaction if you'd like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you comparing just salary or total comp (retirement, health insurance, vacation/sick leave)?

actually looking more at work environment, testing, evaluations, etc. From what I've seen the benefits and salary at the schools I'm looking at are very similar.

Work environment is going to depend a lot of which charter or DCPS school you work at. I worked at a charter for a year in DC as an experienced teacher and it was miserable, but I found a great fit in DCPS and I'm very happy. For me, the pay cut was absolutely worth having a better work-life balance. I can definitely give more specifics in regards to charter networks and teacher satisfaction if you'd like.

Yes please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a new teacher or experience? If you are new I would say go with a charter because many of them invest in training their teachers. Find one that does this. Find out their educational philosophy and if it aligns to yours. If you don't know what yours is then you first need to sit down and figure that out. If you do wind up going with DCPS as a new teacher then go with a struggling school. They will view you less as a liability then an established DCPS school that does well on tests. Even if you don't teach a testing grade in DCPS there is a trickle down mindset where even K teachers are being forced to teach in a way that is not developmentally appropriate for young children. This is done all in the name of test scores. DCPS IMPACT is no joke and if there is not a pay difference between the DCPS school and the charter school then again, go with the charter. DCPS union is pretty weak and rarely helps anyone so no need to worry about union protections.

Thank you for the info! Would actaullly be making more at the charter vs Dcps now that everything has been finalized. Leaning towards the charter but I've always worked for a public school so I'm apprehensive

That simply cannot be so. I read DCUM and according to the DCPS shills that predominate all Charter teachers are underpaid, under-educated, and under-trained. Your remark would seem to indicate that there is some nuance and differentiation that cannot be summarized in one WTU talking point. Stop the insanity!!!!

[Anonymous]

DCPS training sucks. Much better training in most charters. I'd start with a DC charter (4 years), benefit from training, get a Master in Education or similar while on the job (they'll give you credits) if you do not have one. Then get a certification, move to Fairfax (5 years), gain from outstanding training, come back to DC apply to assistant Principal until you get the position.