The WTU’s teacher contract proposal is progressive, bold and comprehensive. It focuses on sound educational approaches to close the achievement gap, improve low-performing schools and provide our students with the rich, rigorous education they deserve.  

The WTU proposal is directly aligned with Chancellor Michelle Rhee's own five-year education plan, but goes much further to achieve those goals than anything the District has offered thus far.

Here are some highlights:

The proposal specifically outlines successful strategies and research-based proposals to turn around low-performing schools. They are similar to strategies that have worked in Chicago’s Fresh Start schools, New York’s Chancellor’s District and Miami’s Zone schools.

The proposal provisions ensure that teachers have the support and training they need to do their best work, including:

• High-quality professional development and induction programs for new teachers, including opening professional development “Teacher Centers” throughout the city, which would provide high-quality support on curriculum and assessment issues as well as the best teaching practices;  
  
  
• A plan to make sure D.C.’s students are taught by the most effective teachers by providing for induction programs for new teachers and taking a more collaborative approach to teacher evaluations to ensure that they are meaningful and helpful
  
Teachers would receive immediate support and assistance if their evaluation indicates a problem. Mentoring, training and other assistance would be provided based on the level of a teacher’s needs; and 


• The proposal outlines a fair and expedient dismissal process for teachers who are unable to reach an acceptable level of performance after receiving support and assistance. Click here for more information on teacher evaluations.Click here for more information on teacher evaluations.

The proposal includes teacher pay increases that are comparable to what has been offered by DCPS, but sustainable and reflective of today's economic realities.

The proposal offers a compensation plan that provides the most expansive performance-pay program in the country. Rather then red and green, the proposal offers a very different vision for performance pay-that is aligned with student success but rooted in fairness, trust and shared responsibility. It includes schoolwide performance pay, additional individual pay options and a career-ladder program that recognizes individual teacher performance and service in a comprehensive way.

The proposal includes measures to improve school improvement, by:

• Ensuring that all classrooms have optimum resources, including phones, computers, instructional technology, Internet access, paper, textbooks, furniture, as well as working bathrooms, windows, doors, heating and cooling systems;
  
  
• Supporting the District’s efforts to overhaul special education; and
  
  
• Employing research-based practices and services aimed at boosting student achievement in the lowest-performing schools.

The proposal pushes implementation of school safety and discipline initiatives, including early intervention programs. These programs will give teachers the ability to quickly refer students for help; discipline policies collaboratively developed and properly enforced; and a network of support including mediation, in-house suspension and quality alternative programs.