The Washington Teachers’ Union and DC Public Schools (DCPS) have reached an agreement Thursday on a plan for restarting in-person classes.
Teachers are likely to be required to return to schools in February, when the third quarter starts, according to the plan.
“The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) is pleased to announce an agreement with DC Public Schools on a Memorandum of Agreement that lays out conditions needed to return to in-person learning,” the union announced in a press release.
The agreement will be effective through the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year or through the end of the coronavirus pandemic, whichever is sooner.
“DC teachers miss our students and recognize that many have struggled to adapt to distance learning,” WTU President Elizabeth Davis was quoted as saying in the release. “Reopening our schools won’t be a return to normal; we are committed to finding ways to best support our students who have struggled the most during the pandemic.”
As part of the agreement, members of the union will respond to a survey with the options:
1) I am interested in returning to teach in person.
2) I am interested in continuing distance learning.
“DCPS will provide the WTU with data about the demand for in-person seats and, if family demand exceeds availability of bargaining unit members, DCPS may assign bargaining unit members for in-person instruction, for Terms 3 and 4, excluding staff who have been approved for leave or a virtual workplace accommodation.”
The WTU represents over 5,000 active and retired teachers, according to its website.