Reply to Working at a DC Charter School vs DCPS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've done both. I went to a charter as a last minute hire (licensed teacher from a different state who relocated to DC with spouse). The charter paid more than the DC scale for my experience, but it also provided less. Less resources for the classroom. Less support from the admins for students with disabilities and emotional disturbance issues. Less collaboration (I don't think I ever meaningfully collaborated with any other teacher during the two years I was there.). Finally, the teachers were young, eager and completely clueless when it comes to classroom management and executing lessons. The school played fast and loose in assigning teachers. I saw an English teacher suddenly become a calculus teacher without any real training or a math degree or even a STEM degree. Teachers were also fired if there wasn't enough students (we were pressured to sit at Metro stations "recruiting" students to keep our jobs. I didn't, but others did hustle. Unpaid, btw). You were pressured and punished for taking sick days because they couldn't get subs.

The hours were way worse. We had the expectation of working extended days. On a per hour pay scale, I actually make more working for DCPS.  There wasn't administrative support for compliance if that makes sense. They skirted the disability and ESL rules regarding service and the students got a lot less than they would in a public setting (where I teach now).

There was a massive amount of money spent on branding. School name crap was everywhere. But we didn't have money for books or learning resources.

I left and went to DCPS. I'm happier because I think we are providing better services to students. I feel more supported and there are clearer delineations between what I am expected to do as a teacher versus what administration is expected to handle.[/quote]

Oh, another thing. The charter was a revolving door. People quit not only mid-year, but mid-day. I saw teachers just walk out of classrooms and never return. I just checked the website and all of the administrators, including the two main honchos from central office aren't there anymore. And I left that charter less than a year ago.[/quote]

If this is a HRCS, it would be great for parents to know which one...[/quote]

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