Here's What's Brewing Today

June 28, 2021

Thank you for your perseverance during this trying year! As you close up your classrooms for the summer, please ensure that the WTU has your personal contact information on file so you can continue to receive updates from us. While you’re away, our team will continue our work to ensure DC can safely reopen schools for the 2021-2022 school year and to improve the District’s IMPACT system.  And, we hope you’ll get involved in our campaign to close achievement gaps by highlighting your reading lists this summer!

Get Reading DC

The Council will be announcing their first budget marks this week. This process, outlining the changes the Council is making to the Mayor’s budget proposal is our first benchmark to know if we’ve secured funding to ensure EVERY school has a full-time librarian. 

It’s not too late to CONTACT THE COUNCIL. 

Click here to learn more about our campaign to #SaveDCPSLibrarians.

Honored Schools Life-Changing Teacher Award!

The WTU would like to congratulate Patricia West and Whittier Education Campus for winning the Winner of the 2021 Honored Schools Life-Changing Teacher Award!

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Summer Professional Learning!!!

Register TODAY for exciting, engaging and informative summer professional development courses and workshops HERE. Space is filling up fast since the summer institute begins TODAY June 28!

Also, you may register for FREE wellness sessions on meditation (Tuesday 6/29 @ 2-3pm) and praise moves (Wednesday 6/30 @ 2-3pm). Registration Link: https://forms.gle/vmk1mKWbRqP47hQz9

Decolonizing the Curriculum

Join Washington Teachers’ Union and Teaching for Change as we host a Decolonizing the Curriculum summer series beginning July 27th. This six-session series will feature presentations disrupting the master narrative in classroom curriculum, by providing hands-on strategies with lessons to be used in-person and virtually.

Each session is standalone (2 PLU's per session) so attend one or all six Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. EST via Zoom.

REGISTER TODAY

Tuesday July 27th at 5:00 p.m. EST Decolonizing the Curriculum with Teaching for Change

Thursday July 29th at 5:00 p.m. EST Tackling Controversial Topics in Early Childhood Education with Laleña Garcia

Tuesday, August 3rd at 5:00 p.m. EST COVID Tribunal with Caneisha Mills

Thursday, August 5th at 5:00 p.m. EST Politics of Hair with Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones

Tuesday, August 10th at 5:00 p.m. EST Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Role Play with Jessica Rucker and Judy Richardson

Thursday, August 12th at 5:00 p.m. EST Teaching about Voting Rights with Ursula Wolfe-Rocca

DCPS iDC Conference (June 29, 2021 @ 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. )

iDC Institute 2021 is a knowledge sharing conference on best practices for integrating technology.  DCPS is gathering educators and staff from around the District to collaborate, network, and learn together.  Join us for a virtual conference where you can connect, experience, and create! Participants will receive 7 PLUs for attending the full day.

Register Here: bit.ly/thriDC21

Moral March on Manchin & McConnell

June 23 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT

What is happening in state legislatures across the country in terms of passing voting restrictions is threatening our democracy. What extremists are doing in state legislatures is hurting us all. There has been a clarion call coming out of West Virginia, Kentucky and all across the nation. This democracy is not only worth fighting for, but that the people are rising up to defend it. Join us on June 23rd as we stand against voter suppression, the filibuster, and political retrogression.

Here's What's Brewing Today

June 21, 2021

Get Reading DC!

In the Mayor’s proposed budget for School Year 2021-2022, 37 schools across the District do not have a full-time librarian. 17 schools, or 46% of schools, without a full-time librarian are in Wards 7 & 8 (98% of students impacted in those schools are black).

CONTACT THE COUNCIL TODAY TO ASK THEM

TO ENSURE EVERY DCPS SCHOOL HAS A FULL-TIME LIBRARIAN.

Click here to learn more about our campaign to #SaveDCPSLibrarians.

Join the Communications Committee on Tuesday, June 22 at 4:30 PM to help us design our on-going social media campaign to Close the Literacy Gap and #SaveDCPSLibrarians.  Via Zoom. Meeting ID: 829 9103 1620; Passcode: 779042

End-of-Year WTU Virtual Dance Party with Kaiser Permanente (KP)

DJ Chris Styles (Tuesday, June 22 @ 7:15-8pm)

Join the WTU and KP to dance the 2020-21 school year away. Rock your school gear, represent your sorority or fraternity, and/or your alma mater as dancers are spotlighted throughout the hour. Prizes and family fun!!! Register HERE.

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Summer Professional Learning!!! June 21st Registration Deadline is Fast Approaching!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED.  Classes start on June 28!

Register TODAY for these exciting, engaging and informative summer professional development courses and workshops HERE. Space is filling up fast since the summer institute begins June 28!

United States Department of Education - Equity Summit Series

“Caste and racism in America’s classrooms prevent all students from having an equal opportunity to learn.  Would the US DOE consider working with local schools directly to design and deliver the resources and funding needed on the ground to even the playing field for these underserved students?”

Register HERE for the first US DOE Equity Summit Series Launch Event on June 22, 2021, 1-3pm EDT. Learn more about the US DOE Equity Summit Series.

Math Literacy for All Alliance members, allies, and networks are asked to participate in this Equity Summit Series by registering for the first session on June 22, and copying the question below into your registration form:

“Caste and racism in America’s classrooms prevent all students from having an equal opportunity to learn.  Would the US DOE consider working with local schools directly to design and deliver the resources and funding needed on the ground to even the playing field for these underserved students?”

Summer Professional Learning!!!

The June 21st Registration Deadline for WTU Professional Development Courses is Approaching!

Register TODAY for exciting, engaging and informative summer professional development courses and workshops brought to you by educators for educators.

Space is filling up fast. The Summer Institute begins June 28!

End-of-Year WTU Virtual Dance Party with Kaiser Permanente & DJ Chris Styles (Tuesday, June 22 @ 7pm)

Join the WTU and KP to dance the 2020-21 school year away. Rock your school gear, represent your sorority or fraternity, and/or your alma mater as dancers are spotlighted throughout the hour. Prizes and family fun!!! Register HERE.

Summer Inspired Teaching Excursions

Join Inspired Teaching for monthly Summer Inspired Teaching Excursions offered both online and in-person. Once a month we'll meet at an outdoor site within the DMV for an immersive morning of talking, walking, learning, and sharing together. Once a month we will also host an online version accessible to those both in and beyond the DC area.  Click here to learn more and register.

June 14, 2021

WTU PROFESSIONAL LEARNING - SUMMER 2021 COURSE OFFERINGS

Registration Closes SOON!  Registration for The WTU's Summer Institute Closes on June 21, 2021. Space is limited!

WTU Professional Development Courses are developed and taught by educators, for educators. Click here for Summer 2021 course descriptions and registration links.

Creating a Plan to Thrive with the Kaiser Permanente (KP) Playbook (June 15 @ 5pm)

Join the WTU and KP to use valuable resources to create a robust and reinvigorating wellness plan.

Register HERE.

Here's What's Brewing Today

June 14, 2021

Get Reading DC!

We need your help!  Join the WTU Legislative Committee on Tuesday, June 15 at 4:30 PM to help us plan a campaign to close the District’s alarming reading gaps.  Via Zoom:  Meeting ID: 859 6155 0231; Passcode: 328360.

Achievement gaps across the District of Columbia continue to grow. In 2019, less than 30% of Black students were reading on grade level; we can expect gaps to have further increased due to COVID-19. Yet, DCPS school budgets continue to fall short of the need, forcing schools serving high percentages of students in need to cut staff and programs.

The band-aids that DCPS continue to propose - $14m for high-impact tutoring – will not close the gaps. We need more educators in our classrooms to serve those who are struggling to read. We need to implement co-teaching and collaborative teaching models to connect reading to the world our students live in. And, we need a School Librarian in every school to support educators as well as students.

Literacy is not just the ability to read and write—it is a right. We invite you to get involved and help us plan our campaign to help close the achievement gaps that are plaguing the District’s youngest readers.

DCPS Licensure Update

Given the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has granted DCPS a final year of licensure flexibility for new hires for SY21-22. DCPS is under special conditions for federal title funding due to longstanding noncompliance with this requirement, and as such, school leaders will see heightened sanctions for employees who do not take steps to come into compliance.

Current Employees

Terminations for licensure non-compliance for SY 20-21 will not be rescinded. However, educators are eligible to apply for a position if they have submitted an OSSE application between June 1, 2020, and May 27, 2021. In addition to meeting this requirement, all other onboarding and clearance requirements must be met for candidates to be selected for rehire.

New Hires

In order to be hired for SY21-22, candidates must meet all onboarding and clearance requirements. All new hires must secure an OSSE license by March 1, 2022, or they will be terminated effective end of SY21-22. To ensure all staff who do not hold an active DC license make progress towards the March 1 deadline, we will implement a progressive discipline action plan that is supported by a comprehensive communication plan. School leaders will be asked to provide oversight and support to staff to ensure all deadlines are met.

Questions regarding this update can be directed to the Teacher Recruitment and Selection team ([email protected]) or the Licensure team ([email protected]).

Option 2 VEBA Guidance for Eligible Excessed WTU Members

VEBA Benefit application for SY 2020-2021 is available on the WTU website. The Benefit is available to excessed members of the WTU bargaining unit with 20 or more years of service who have not been able to find placement in another DCPS school. Click here to determine whether you are eligible. To be eligible for Option 2 Benefits, you must not have been awarded another Option available to Excessed Permanent Status Teachers as provided for in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (Option 1, Buy-Out or Option 3, A Year to Secure A New Placement) and you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You were in a unit of Teachers represented by the Washington Teachers’ Union and employed by DCPS in or after the spring semester of 2012 pursuant to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and
• You have 20 or more Years of Service as determined by the DCPS Teachers’ Retirement Plan, and
• You meet the qualification requirements of an Excessed Permanent Status Teacher, and
• In the final year of employment as a Teacher you had a final Evaluation Score of effective or higher, pursuant to the DCPS Effectiveness Assessment System for School-Based Personnel, and
• ·During the sixty (60) calendar days following the effective date of your excess, you are available for employment as a Teacher with DCPS and you made a “substantial effort” to secure a placement within DCPS as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. A “substantial effort” is defined as a good a good faith effort to interview at a minimum of five (5) Schools or a good faith effort to interview for all vacant positions for which you are qualified if the total number of such positions system-wide is fewer than five (5), and
• You agree to waive your right to reemployment as a Permanent Status Teacher with DCPS, and
• You have met all of the requirements for election of an Option for Excessed Permanent Status Teachers as set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Here's What's Brewing Today - Monday, June 7, 2021

Member Assembly - Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 4:30 PM (Via Zoom)

All WTU members are invited to participate in 2021 June Member Assembly.

Please click here to register.

Read In to Save DCPS Librarians; Council Budget Hearing

Many thanks to the librarians that attended last week’s "Read-In to Save School Libraries." As we gained our first detailed look at the Mayor’s 2021-2022 budget proposal, we continue to see an erosion of resources reaching our students; librarian positions are at the forefront of our work to ensure all students receive a rich, well-rounded education and for our city to close the stark and growing achievement gaps that plague our city. We hope you'll all join us in our work to #SaveDCPSLibrarians.

As we look ahead to the fall and plan to reopen our schools for the 2021-2022 school year, President Lyons testified that DC needs to make three key investments to close long-standing achievement gaps. Reduced Class Size. Implement Co-Teaching Models. And a Librarian in Every School.

Read President Lyons statement to the DC Council on the FY2022 budget here: FY22 Budget Testimony - WTU Local 6. 

We encourage you to join us at tomorrow’s Member Assembly to learn more about our work and join the upcoming Legislative Committee and Communications Committee meetings to GET INVOLVED and help us build campaigns to invest in teachers and close the literacy gap.

ESY 2021 Student Snapshot and Academic Work Portfolio

Given the amount of queries the WTU received from members, we met with the Division of Specialized Instruction regarding the ESY 2021 Student Snapshot and Academic Work Portfolio. As a result of that meeting, Special Education teachers should have received updated communications from the ESY Team notifying teachers that the portfolio submissions do not need to be new work that is created or lesson plans, rather, it is a compilation of work that has already been created, completed, and used with the student this SY. You do NOT need to create or develop new materials. That is, you are compiling the relevant work samples that a student has been working on and/or completed during the current SY to address the academic goals where they have met the eligibility criteria for ESY.

If you have been requested to create lesson plans, and/or create and provide new assignments/work for the goal(s) that you have selected for ESY, please contact Field Services Specialist Janice Brown Parker at [email protected] immediately.

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew. Please bookmark the site and check back for regular news and notices as well as to find items from past editions of the AM Brew.

Summer Professional Learning!!!

Register TODAY for these exciting, engaging and informative summer professional development courses and workshops HERE.

Decolonizing the Curriculum

Join Washington Teachers’ Union and Teaching for Change as we host a Decolonizing the Curriculum summer series beginning July 27th. This six-session series will feature presentations disrupting the master narrative in classroom curriculum, by providing hands-on strategies with lessons to be used in-person and virtually.

Each session is standalone (2 PLU's per session) so attend one or all six Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. EST via Zoom.

REGISTER TODAY

Tuesday July 27th at 5:00 p.m. EST Decolonizing the Curriculum with Teaching for Change

Thursday July 29th at 5:00 p.m. EST Tackling Controversial Topics in Early Childhood Education with Laleña Garcia

Tuesday, August 3rd at 5:00 p.m. EST COVID Tribunal with Caneisha Mills

Thursday, August 5th at 5:00 p.m. EST Politics of Hair with Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones

Tuesday, August 10th at 5:00 p.m. EST Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Role Play with Jessica Rucker and Judy Richardson

Thursday, August 12th at 5:00 p.m. EST Teaching about Voting Rights with Ursula Wolfe-Rocca

Here's What's Brewing Today

June 1, 2021

Last week, Mayor Bowser released her Fiscal Year 2022 (school year 2021-2022) budget. Join the WTU on June 2 on the steps of the Wilson Building to #FundOurFuture and support DCPS Librarians and call for small class sizes and the adoption of co-teaching and collaborative teaching models to help our students recover from the pandemic.

Read more about the Mayor’s budget proposal here.

Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks is OPEN.

Open enrollment will occur from June 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 and from August 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021.

Click here to submit your information or contact Charmaine Wilks at 202 517-1475 or [email protected] with any questions. If you miss the Open Enrollment dates, you will not be able to enroll in "the Banks" until the next Open Seasons in June 2022 and August 2022. This is strictly for the use of the Sick Leave and Maternity Banks and not the Dental/Vision enrollment.

June DCPS and OSSE Licensure Webinar

Technology Problems?

Yesterday, Mayor Bowser released her Fiscal Year 2022 (school year 2021-2022) budget. Join the WTU on June 2 on the steps of the Wilson Building to #FundOurFuture and support DCPS Librarians and call for small class sizes and the adoption of co-teaching and collaborative teaching models to help our students recover from the pandemic.

For education, the Mayor’s budget proposal includes a 3.6% increase in the base amount of the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula, plus increased weights for English Language Learners and At-Risk Students. The Mayor’s budget also establishes new microtransit routes to provide students at 20+ elementary, middle, and high schools Safe Passage areas in Wards 7 & 8 and an $8 million increase for school-based mental health services. We also applaud the Mayor’s investments in affordable housing and direct economic supports to residents who have been hit hardest by the pandemic.