Rhee to Fire 250 Teachers Who Missed Certification Date

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced yesterday that she plans to fire 250 teachers and 500 teacher's aides who were unable to meet a June 30 deadline to obtain certification.

The school system traditionally has had a large number of uncertified teachers and teacher's aides, and for years had struggled to meet requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law that all educators have a credential. In late 2005, the union representing aides said about half its 700 members were uncertified. About that same time, then-Superintendent Clifford B. Janey said that about 1,100 teachers, or 25 percent of the workforce, were not certified.

At the time, Janey threatened to fire them by June 2005, but he extended the deadline by a year because the school system was unable to replace so many educators at once. Rhee, who also extended the deadline a year after starting in June 2007, was firm in dismissing any worker who missed the deadline.

By firing the 750 educators, she said, the school system now is in compliance with the law. Rhee's spokeswoman said the firings are not expected to disrupt the upcoming school year because none of the educators were assigned to classrooms since they were not expected to make the deadline.

"We have thousands of highly qualified, dedicated teachers and paraprofessionals serving DCPS students everyday," Rhee said in a statement. "Unfortunately, complying with federal law is not optional and we thank those DCPS employees who have worked diligently to meet the requirements."

The teachers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree in the subject they teach and to pass a test demonstrating their knowledge in that area. Teacher's aides are required to have a high school diploma or associate's degree, and pass an exam.

Leaders from the teachers and teacher's aides unions said they were opposed to the firings. "There are some very good teachers who are included in this group, and students are going to be without their services," said George Parker, president of the Washington Teachers' Union.

The school system will send termination letters to the 750 educators beginning Monday, schools spokeswoman Jennifer Calloway said.