It is surprising that the Department of Education would celebrate the return of 1,100 ineffective teachers back into the classrooms of our most vulnerable children. Semantic games aside, a world-class school system is not built on a foundation that gives preferential treatment to the lowest-performing teachers. Today’s announcement demonstrates that the DOE is not serious about ensuring that every child is taught by a quality teacher. Had they been, there's a simple solution: limit the time unwanted teachers can collect a paycheck.
Recent public reports put the ATR pool at nearly 1,200 teachers.
Of those 1,200:
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59% had been in the pool for more than two years
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41% had been in the pool for more than three years
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A quarter have been involved in disciplinary proceedings
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A staggering 2/3 have not applied for a permanent position and don't seem to want to be full-time teachers.
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1/3 of the pool had U-ratings
By the DOE's own admission, only 8% of teachers in the ATR pool are 'likely viable' as teachers.
