”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

As mentioned earlier this morning, DCPS was soon expected to pink slip a number of teachers. Well, the tally is in: 226 241 teachers will be let go, effective August 13th. The Washington Post reports that the firings will be contested by the Washington Teachers’ Union.

Another 737 teachers were rated “minimally effective” by Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s new IMPACT evaluation system. These teachers will have one year to improve classroom performance before they too face possible dismissal.

Not surprisingly, debate over IMPACT has been reignited by today’s announcement. Critics say teachers were not adequately prepared for the program’s new set of expectations, and that test scores are a poor measure of teacher performance. Proponents view it as a bold, progressive move to overhaul the city’s failing schools.

Since this is IMPACT’s first year in place, it’s hard to tell whether these ugly numbers will lead to beautiful things for DCPS. But with test scores on the rise, the promise for positive change is most certainly there.

Rebecca Gross

Raised in nearby MoCo, Rebecca happily jumped the District line in 2005. When not stuck behind a computer, she can be found exploring the city’s many wonders, usually with her trusty canine sidekick Jasper Jones. Questions, comments, concerns? Email her at RebeccaGross (at) WeLoveDC.com.