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Tampilkan postingan dengan label DCPS layoffs. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label DCPS layoffs. Tampilkan semua postingan

Hot Off The Press: Reduction In Force (RIF) In DCPS

Featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence & candidate for WTU General Vice President

Update: The Washington Teacher led the story on DCPS layoffs which were later confirmed by Bill Turque and Fox 5 News. According to inside sources, the total number of layoffs were not reported accurately by the DCPS spokesperson and numbers could be as high as 127 employees.

Sources have told The Washington Teacher that Deputy Chancellor, Kaya Henderson instituted yet another round of layoffs of DC Public Schools employees on Friday, October 22. These layoffs are one year after the October 2, 2009 anniversary date of layoffs of 266 teachers and approximately 100 other school staff. Inside sources report that this latest reduction in force allegedly includes special education specialists, placement specialists, central office staff and school based social workers and school psychologists some of whom may be members of the Washington Teachers Union. Stay tuned for further details on the 2010 round of school layoffs.

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Disparate Impact on DC's RIF'd Teachers


http://medilldev.net/2009/10/effective-teachers-central-in-education-reform/


Definition of Disparate Impact 

A type of discrimination recognized by the courts is “an allegation of disparate impact. An allegation of disparate impact most often focuses on a systematic procedure that appears to treat everyone alike, but has an excessively negative impact on a particular group"  Either an individual or a group may make this claim,. “If made on behalf of a group, it is called a class action complaint. The person or agent filing a complaint on behalf of a class must also be a personally aggrieved member of the class” (“Illegal”, 1999).


Crystal Proctor, Social Studies teacher from Jefferson Middle School is featured in this video and discusses how she was laid off on October 2 due to a Principal's assessment that she did not have a grasp of the new teaching and learning framework which was just introduced on September 18. Proctor worked at Jefferson middle school located at 801 7th St SW (phone number 202-729-3270) where Stephanie Patton is the principal.

Many believe these recent layoffs of 266 teachers and 122 school staff were intentionally created by the Rhee administration through over hiring of 934 new teachers this school year.  It has been reported that of the 934 new teacher hires the average age was 32 years old while laid off teachers had an average age of 48 years old. Even though seniority has to be considered in a reduction in force, its weighting on the competitive level documentation form (CLDF) was reduced to a mere 5 % instead of 25 %. Some say this diminished the value of seniority and constitutes an unfair labor practice and should be challenged legally. Other factors on the CLDF were subjective and were given  greater weight by the Rhee administration. Proctor illustrates this point in the video. 

It seems that many of the laid off teachers and school staff definitely may make the argument of age discrimination as there seems to be a disparate impact on employees 40 and older. I encourage all teachers and school staff to file an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint (EEOC) as well as an appeal through the Office of Employee Appeals (OEA).

* This entry is not intended to serve as legal advice. All impacted employees are advised to consult with an attorney.

Posted by The Washington Teacher featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence, Video courtesy of Medill News service and story by Jane Park

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