Why Should Michelle Rhee's Budget Cuts Spare Ineffective Teachers?

CRITICS OF D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee say she is using the city's budget problems as a way to get rid of teachers she doesn't want. They're probably right. But that doesn't make Ms. Rhee wrong to take action against teachers whose hold on their jobs has little to do with their value to students.

Ms. Rhee announced last week that budget cutbacks are forcing the schools to trim spending before the city's fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. Teacher layoffs are likely by the end of October, and some class sizes might increase as budgets are adjusted for individual schools. Ms. Rhee said she didn't expect major disruptions, but she couldn't predict how many of the system's 3,800 classroom teachers might be affected. She made it clear, though, that decisions would be heavily weighted toward the needs of schools and students, with seniority and individual preferences taking a back seat.

A furor greeted Ms. Rhee's announcement. D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) objected to what he perceived as the council being blamed for the cuts. Never mind that he insisted the schools make sacrifices when the council worked this summer to close a $666 million budget shortfall. (For the record, we worried about the effects of the education cuts but nonetheless applauded the council for making tough budget choices). It's unimaginable that the same council members who preached fiscal austerity are now faulting Ms. Rhee for trying to come up with savings to restore summer school rather than hoping more money will somehow materialize.

Officials of the Washington Teachers Union are also none too happy with the prospect that some veteran teachers are at risk. It seems that a reduction in force gives Ms. Rhee more latitude in getting rid of underperforming teachers. She needs to do a better job of demonstrating to teachers that the process will be fair. But instead of picketing Ms. Rhee, as planned this week, union officials would be better off trying to reach a contract agreement with the District that gives the schools chief the ability to remove ineffective educators (no matter what the budget situation is) while still affording teachers due process.