6 years ago
Every child should start the school year with a full-time teacher, the books they need and a well-maintained building.
But a new study out Tuesday shows DC's school system is often "tardy" completing its assignments. W*USA 9 News' Phyllis Armstrong talked with community volunteers who discovered that too many schools have to "make do" on the first day of classes.
As reported by Phyllis Armstrong
Many students doing the math in DC schools may start the year without a full-time teacher. That is the bottom line in 43 schools across the city. Community volunteers doing research for DC Voice found 51% had teacher openings when classes began in August.
Principals at the elementary schools studied reported vacancies in 28% of the early childhood education classes. Meanwhile, at the high school level 17% of the Math and Science teachers were not in place and 22% of the special education teachers were without full-time teachers as well.
Superintendent Dr. Clifford Janey is reviewing the results that DC Voice delivered to his top administrators. Janey learned first hand in August about the crisis in school construction, renovation and maintenance.
The community volunteers found workers had completed only 47% of the maintenance promised and only 19% of the major repairs by the time students returned.
DC voice agreed to make the study schools anonymous so principals would be more open in their interviews.
The principals rated the Central Administration?s "Back to School" preparation less than satisfactory. The community volunteers also found some of the 43 schools had to do without reading books, custodians and new teacher mentoring.
Superintendent Janey expressed interest in having DC Voice do a more in-depth study when the next school year begins.
To view Phyllis Armstrong's full report, click "Play Video."
Written by Phyllis Armstrong
