Fired, Rehired Teachers Back At Troubled RI School

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (AP) - Teachers who were fired and ultimately rehired in a dispute that focused national debate over education reform have returned to their Rhode Island classrooms to start the new school year.

Classes at Central Falls High School started Wednesday amid cautious optimism that schedule and curriculum changes will help improve student performance. Just 7 percent of the 11th graders tested last year were proficient in math.

The entire teaching staff at the persistently troubled school was fired last year after negotiations with the administration broke down over proposed reforms. The teachers were rehired in May after agreeing to changes.

Those changes include a longer school day, more rigorous teacher evaluations and flexible schedules to provide more classes for struggling students. Teachers were also required to participate in more days of professional development.