The Philadelphia School District plans to hire at least 400 teachers for the 2015-16 school year.
For a district that has spent the last several years closing schools and laying off teachers, that's a notable thing.
Particular areas of need, officials said, are secondary math and science, special education, art, music, and upper elementary school teachers.
In an effort to compete with charter schools and other systems, the district has also changed its application process -- shortening the hiring timeline and requiring applicants to submit more information up front.
"We wanted to streamline the way we do hiring of teachers," said Kendra Rosati, the district's director of recruiting. "And we wanted to increase the quality of people. We need to have excellent teachers in front of our kids."
City schools have long been criticized for a cumbersome, opaque hiring process which complicates recruiting teachers to a district where bad news has been the norm. Rosati knows that, and said the district is now doing all it can to reverse that trend.
In the past, candidates often didn't know whether they were even eligible to interview with principals until the summer, well after charter schools and other districts made hiring decisions.
Though the budget situation remains bleak -- officials are projecting a deficit of $80 million or more, and it's not clear when principals will know exactly how many teachers they can hire for next year -- Rosati said the new process means candidates will know within four to six weeks of applying if they are eligible to interview for open jobs.
The district had been using a cursory online application that didn't allow for resume and cover letter. Those things are required now, and would-be teachers will also be asked to submit reference information, a sample lesson plan and a video of themselves teaching.
"This is a competitive process," Rosati said.
Last year, the district projected it would have about 200 jobs to fill for the start of the 2014-15 school year. But with retirements and resignations, it needed 400.
Rosati said 400 is the baseline for the next school year.
Much remains up in the air for the district. In addition to the uncertain budget picture, it's unclear whether the School Reform Commission's move to cancel the existing teachers' contract will stick.
The SRC wants teachers to begin paying for part of their health insurance, a move it says will save the district more than $50 million annually. Commonwealth Court recently ruled the district can't cancel contracts, but the district has not yet announced whether it will appeal that decision to the state Supreme Court.
The district currently employs about 8,500 teachers. Starting salary for a new teacher with no experience is $45,360.
(c)2015 The Philadelphia Inquirer
