DCPS, Teachers Union Hash Out Plan To Return To The Classroom

WASHINGTON, DC — After DC Public Schools and the Washington Teachers’ Union reached an agreement Thursday evening to return to in-person learning, Mayor Muriel Bowser commended the progress made.

“Since the summer, we have worked tirelessly to create a plan that allows for the safe return of in-person learning — a plan that meets the needs of students, educators and families. While CARE classrooms have been limited, we know that for many families they have provided a critical lifeline," Boswer said in a statement. "Still, we know that the best option for our young people is in-person learning and that has remained our focus. The road ahead is long and there is much learning loss to be made up for, but this agreement brings us another step closer to getting our students where they need to be – in the classroom, surrounded by educators and friends, feeling challenged and loved.”

Some of the points of agreement reached include:

• Teachers shall not be required to teach outside of their licensed disciplines.
• Teachers and students shall have their temperature checked upon entry each day they are onsite.
• Teachers shall receive, at minimum, the required duty-free planning time per week as outlined in the current CBA. DCPS shall also provide all teachers with additional planning time per week beyond what is required in the CBA.
• Each classroom and/or meeting space shall adhere to appropriate social distancing guidelines between students and teachers in alignment, to the fullest extent possible, with CDC and strict adherence with OSSE and DC Health policy guidelines.
• Prior to reopening school buildings, DCPS shall host a walkthrough of each building, including all areas of the school site, using the DCPS School Building Readiness Checklist as agreed upon by DCPS and WTU.