Low-income schools take brunt of D.C. teacher cuts

The Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) has extracted some interesting details from DCPS on the Oct. 2 layoffs. Turns out that nearly 70 percent of the staff reductions came from its highest-need schools.

Based on data supplied by DCPS, the union found that 24.3 percent of the 267 layoffs (64 teachers and staff) came from Ward 8 schools; 18.4 percent (49) from Ward 7; 7.9 percent (21) from Ward 6, and 18.7 percent (50) from Ward 5.

DCPS says the numbers are not as out of line as they appear, considering that 58 percent of its students are in Wards 5 through 8. Spokeswoman Jennifer Calloway also said that nearly 40 of the 53 District schools that did not meet enrollment targets were in those wards. Those under enrolled schools were the most likely to cut spending by reducing staff.

WTU also reports that among the dismissed teachers and staff were 39 special education instructors, a surprisingly high number given the District's stated intention of improving instruction for its special needs kids. Calloway said part of the push to reform special ed was to have enough teachers on hand in the event the District was able to bring back during the school year some of the more than 3,000 students it has in private facilities. They were placed outside the system because DCPS has historically been unable to meet their needs.

"When faced with the unexpected budget pressure we did allow principals to eliminate those special education positions if they did not have the special education student enrollment to support them," Calloway said in an e-mail.