D.C., Chicago Teachers Give School Buildings Poor Grades; Study Finds Connection Between Poor Conditions and Learning, Teaching

11/12/2002

From: Mary Filardo of the 21st Century School Fund, 202-745-3745

News Advisory:

Poor conditions in Washington, D.C., and Chicago public schools adversely affect student achievement and teacher productivity and retention, according to a survey commissioned by the 21st Century School Fund to be released Thursday, Nov. 14. The survey interviewed 1,273 District teachers and 680 Chicago teachers.

Washington, D.C., teachers gave their schools worse ratings than did their Chicago counterparts, with more than 50 percent of D.C. teachers stating dissatisfaction with their facilities and more than 40 percent labeling their school buildings inadequate. The survey also found a connection between poor facilities and test results.

WHAT: News Conference to release/discuss survey results

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 14 - 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: American Federation of Teachers building 555 New Jersey Ave., N.W., 4th Floor Conference Room (next door to Washington Court Hotel)

WHO: -- Mark Schneider, SUNY, Stony Brook, who conducted the survey -- Esther Hankerson, interim president, Washington Teachers Union -- Nat LaCour, executive VP, American Federation of Teachers

Reporters can see and videotape poor exterior conditions of several DC schools that are located within about a mile of the AFT building. The list of these schools will be distributed at the news conference.

A full copy of the research report is available at http://www.21csf.org. This report is embargoed until November 14 at 11 a.m.