Reassignment centers (New York City Department of Education)
Encyclopedia
Reassignment centers are holding facilities for New York City Department of Education
, where more than 600 teachers accused of misconduct
were paid to work full time doing nothing for months or years at a time while awaiting resolution of their cases. Among teachers they are referred to as rubber rooms. The city has 13 reassignment centers.
Teachers in reassignment centers assert that the "rubber room" term is offensive. They also claim that the city's teacher union
, the United Federation of Teachers
, neglects to provide proper representation to teachers assigned to reassignment centers. Exonerated teachers often become absent teacher reserve
teachers.
Although the Department of Education blamed union rules that made it difficult to fire teachers, some teachers assert that they have been sent to reassignment centers because they are whistleblowers against administrators for falsifying student test results or publicly challenging former Schools Chancellor
Joel Klein
. Three Department of Education employees speaking to the UFT's "New York Teacher," confirmed teachers' allegations that Fordham High School for the Arts
principal Iris Blige filed allegations against the school's UFT chapter leader, to place her in a reassignment center, in order to intimidate her and to set an example to the school's staff.
Reassignment centers arose as a budgetary concern in bureaucratic studies and press coverage in Spring 2008, and cost the city more than $65 million per year in labor expenses. In April, 2010, the city and teachers' union reached an agreement to end the practice. This agreement came in the midst of the first public presentation of a documentary on the centers.
Since the rubber room agreement, the only substantive change has been that there are no longer large rooms filled with reassigned teachers. Teachers are typically reassigned within their own schools, or to other Department of Education buildings throughout the city. Many teachers are subsequently brought up on "3020-a" charges, which refer to the section of the New York State education law dealing with the discipline of tenured teachers. Unlike any other school district in New York State, no independent panel must vote to prefer charges against a tenured teacher in New York City. The 3020-a trial is held before an independent arbitrator.
documentary on the centers, called "The Rubber Room", which was the basis for a segment on the radio program This American Life
.
of Law & Order
focuses on Rubber Room.
New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
, where more than 600 teachers accused of misconduct
Misconduct
A misconduct is a legal term meaning a wrongful, improper, or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by obstinate indifference to the consequences of one's acts....
were paid to work full time doing nothing for months or years at a time while awaiting resolution of their cases. Among teachers they are referred to as rubber rooms. The city has 13 reassignment centers.
Teachers in reassignment centers assert that the "rubber room" term is offensive. They also claim that the city's teacher union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, the United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
, neglects to provide proper representation to teachers assigned to reassignment centers. Exonerated teachers often become absent teacher reserve
Absent Teacher Reserve
Absent Teacher Reserve refers to teachers that have lost their daily teaching positions, but are reassigned to substitute for absent teachers or to perform clerical work. Most of the job losses have been due to the ongoing NYC DOE school closings / reorganizations...
teachers.
Although the Department of Education blamed union rules that made it difficult to fire teachers, some teachers assert that they have been sent to reassignment centers because they are whistleblowers against administrators for falsifying student test results or publicly challenging former Schools Chancellor
New York City School Chancellor
The New York City Schools Chancellor is the leader of the New York City Department of Education, the agency that handles New York City's public schools. The current Chancellor is Dennis M. Walcott, who began his tenure on April 18, 2011 after the resignation of Cathie Black on April 7, 2011...
Joel Klein
Joel Klein
Joel Irwin Klein was Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the largest public school system in the United States, serving more than 1.1 million students in more than 1,600 schools...
. Three Department of Education employees speaking to the UFT's "New York Teacher," confirmed teachers' allegations that Fordham High School for the Arts
Fordham High School for the Arts
Fordham High School for the Arts, often called simply Fordham Arts, is a small school located within Roosevelt Educational Campus, the site of the former Theodore Roosevelt High School, across the street from Fordham University....
principal Iris Blige filed allegations against the school's UFT chapter leader, to place her in a reassignment center, in order to intimidate her and to set an example to the school's staff.
Reassignment centers arose as a budgetary concern in bureaucratic studies and press coverage in Spring 2008, and cost the city more than $65 million per year in labor expenses. In April, 2010, the city and teachers' union reached an agreement to end the practice. This agreement came in the midst of the first public presentation of a documentary on the centers.
Since the rubber room agreement, the only substantive change has been that there are no longer large rooms filled with reassigned teachers. Teachers are typically reassigned within their own schools, or to other Department of Education buildings throughout the city. Many teachers are subsequently brought up on "3020-a" charges, which refer to the section of the New York State education law dealing with the discipline of tenured teachers. Unlike any other school district in New York State, no independent panel must vote to prefer charges against a tenured teacher in New York City. The 3020-a trial is held before an independent arbitrator.
Documentary
Filmmakers Jeremy Garrett and Justin Cegnar of Five Boroughs Productions produced an independentIndependent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
documentary on the centers, called "The Rubber Room", which was the basis for a segment on the radio program This American Life
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
.
Popular Culture
The last ever episodeRubber Room (Law & Order)
"Rubber Room" is the twenty-third episode of the twentieth season and the series finale of NBC's long-running legal drama Law & Order. In the episode, Detectives Lupo and Bernard search for an anonymous blogger who has posted plans to blow up a school, while Lt...
of Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
focuses on Rubber Room.