Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Kristin Reed filed this request with the Virginia Department of Education of Virginia.
Submitted March 10, 2020
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Kristin Reed

Subject: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

* Annual teacher retention data for City of Richmond Public Schools for the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 school years.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Kristin Reed

From: Virginia Department of Education

Subject: Re: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Good afternoon,

This email is in response to your FOIA request for records related to
annual retention data for Richmond City Public Schools.

The records you requested are attached. Please note that we are
interpreting the request as division-level retention rates (not
school-level rates), and we do not yet have data available for the
2019-2020 school year.

Additionally, the division turnover rate represents the percent of
instructional personnel (excluding principals and assistant principals) who
were reported as employed in the Virginia school division in a school year,
but who were not reported employed in that same school division in the next
school year. This methodology does not include those instructional
personnel who may have taken an assignment in central office administration
because only school-based instructional personnel are reported.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

*Rebecca S. Askew*
Senior Policy Analyst
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 225-2775
rebecca.askew@doe.virginia.gov

From: Kristin Reed

Subject: RE: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Hi Rebecca,

Thank you so much! At a first glance this document only includes retained teachers in SY2017-18. Do you also have the data for retained teachers for the years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020?

Best,
Kristin

From: Kristin Reed

Subject: RE: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Hi Rebecca,

Just following up on this request. Will VDOE be addressing FOIA's during the COVID-19 shutdowns?

Kristin

From: Virginia Department of Education

Subject: Re: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Yes, VDOE will continue to respond to FOIA requests as the Code of Virginia
requires.

Please know that our staff is stretched very thin responding to the impact
of COVID-19 and it may take additional time to respond to requests. With
the school closings, concerns for public health and ensuring our senior
graduate on time, we are prioritizing our workload.

We are working very hard to ensure that we are responsive to all students,
parents, schools, and constituents during this time.

*Rebecca S. Askew*
Senior Policy Analyst
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 225-2775
rebecca.askew@doe.virginia.gov

From: Virginia Department of Education

Subject: Re: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Good morning,

VDOE responded to your request on March 17, 2020. Please see the attached
communication.

*Rebecca S. Askew*
Senior Policy Analyst
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 225-2775
rebecca.askew@doe.virginia.gov

From: Kristin Reed

Subject: RE: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Hi Rebecca,

VDOE did respond to this request in part on March 17th, 2020. I followed up on March 19th with this text copied below. I am looking for longitudinal data for the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 school years—beginning fall 2016 and ending Spring 2020. Is it possible to get the data for that full date range?

Best,
Kristin
----

"Hi Rebecca,

Thank you so much! At a first glance this document only includes retained teachers in SY2017-18. Do you also have the data for retained teachers for the years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020?

Best,
Kristin"

I

From: Virginia Department of Education

Subject: Re: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

I am following up with staff as to why this information was not originally
provided.

Thank you for your patience!

*Rebecca S. Askew*
Senior Policy Analyst
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 225-2775
rebecca.askew@doe.virginia.gov

From: Virginia Department of Education

Subject: Re: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

I am not sure how these records were overlooked. Please see attached and
thank you for your patience.

*Rebecca S. Askew*
Senior Policy Analyst
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 225-2775
rebecca.askew@doe.virginia.gov

From: Kristin Reed

Subject: RE: Virginia Freedom of Information Act Request: Richmond Public Schools Teacher Retention Rates

Email

Thank you so much Rebecca. It's been a very tough few months, and I know VDOE has had a lot to tackle in the intervening time. I appreciate your followup.

Kristin

Files