New Contract Restores R.I. Teachers' Jobs

Teachers and staff at Central Falls, R.I., reached a tentative agreement with the school district that both parties believe will create the conditions for student and teacher success.

The AFT members – 90 teachers, counselors, principals and staff – had the strong support of CWA and other unions earlier this year when they were fired as a group by the school district.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said the events of the past few months clearly demonstrated "the need for a collaborative approach to school improvement, especially when the stakes are high, as is the case at Central Falls High School."

Teachers, if given the right tools and a real voice in the process can deliver on the promise of equal access to quality education for every child, she said. "We have never believed that mass firing is a vehicle for school improvement."