Hello,

I have been involved at my child's school for the past 4 years. This school year (2008-2009) I became a PTO board member because I wanted to be more involved with the teachers, school admin & fundraisers.

My question:

Do I, as a parent and a PTO Board Member have the right to know who my child's teacher will be in August?

Why I ask:

(Without getting into too much detail.)

My child's Science teacher has a pretty bad reputation with the children. My child gets nervouse everytime it's a Science day. Numerous concerned parents have voiced their opinion about this teacher & have had discussions with the school's principal about this teacher.

My child is in the 4th grade and will be a 5th grader come August. The current 5th grade teacher is retiring this June, so a spot is open. I, along with other concerned parents are worried that the Science teacher will be the new 5th grade teacher.

Tuition is due in the next few weeks, and yet there hasn't been an annoucement about who will be the 5th grade teacher. I, along with other concerned parents have directly asked the Principal on multiple occasions, and we have yet to know. Can you legally withhold this information until after she has received paid tuition? Do you have any rights as parents? Is there anything we can do to get this information now, rather than at the start of the new school year?

Am I out of line for being concerne and eager to know who will be my child's teacher for next year?

If your child was enrolled in a public school, it's not usual for a parent to know teacher assignments ahead of the new school year (with the exception if your child has an IEP). However, because it sounds like your child is enrolled in a private school, money talks. And, there is power in numbers and you are already aware that several parents have voiced their concern about this person becoming the homeroom teacher to the principal. So, those two factors alone seem to give you more (but not complete) rights to this info than a parent with a child in public school.

Now, you'll have to decide what you are going to do if this person will, indeed, become the new 5th grade teacher. Will you transfer your child to another school? Assuming that you won't know teacher assignments until after tuition is paid, what is the school's refund policy if you choose to enroll your child elsewhere?

Dear Jewel guest

Thank you very much for your response. Yes, my child is enrolled in a private religious school. I, as a concerned parent have spoken to several parents who too are concerned. We have decided to meet with the principal as a group. Do you think this is a good idea? Do you feel the principal will feel as if we are attacking her if we meet as a group?

A few parents have decided to transfer their kids to other schools if this new teacher becomes the 5th grade teacher.

I will be calling the school today and asking about their refund policy. Thank you for adding this. I had not even thought about it until you mentioned it below.

Thank you very much!

If the teacher has been hired, I don't know why the school wouldn't announce it. However, HR issues can be very tricky. Even if they hope they know who fill fill the spot, they may not be able to technically confirm that until certain processes are complete.

However, that is separate from your right to know. In our district (public schools) the kids find out their teachers either the day before or the day school starts. No requests for a specific teacher are accepted. Changes are very rare. The kids go through an enrollment process in the spring and then the staff work out the schedules over the summer.

At elementary level, lists are posted on the doors of the school a day or so before school starts. For secondary, the students report to a specified room on the first day and receive their schedule/list of teachers.

By the way, this issue has nothing to do with the PTO. Your involvement with this should strictly be as a parent. And in that role, you have every right to voice your concerns.

I've been wondering how did you fair? I know it's early to know your teacher but just wondering as I'm sure this is a shared issue with other "Moms".