“1000 DC Public Schools Teachers Are Unlicensed”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lorie Shaull

Thanks to Adelle for passing on the NBC story:

“An I-Team analysis of databases obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from D.C. Public Schools and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) show approximately one of every four D.C. Public Schools teachers worked without licensure during the 2017-18 school year.”

Read the full story here.

From CM Grosso’s office:

“The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large), chairperson of the Committee on Education, on the news reports regarding unlicensed D.C. Public Schools staff:

“I am again frustrated with D.C. Public Schools over this most recent failure to properly follow established laws and regulations. These licensing requirements were put in place to ensure that our students are safe and that we have quality educators in our schools. I applaud OSSE for continuing to hold DCPS to account and working with the central office to certify that educators have the proper and up-to-date licensure for the 2018-19 school year.

“However, there remains a greater question about whether we have the appropriate requirements in place for all school staff in both our traditional public and public charter schools. The Committee on Education will be focused on that question over the summer as part of its work to improve school safety and will hold hearings on this matter once the Council returns from its recess in September.”