Philadelphia Federation of Teachers School District of Philadelphia

XVIII. Working Conditions of Teachers
(f) A teacher in an elementary school support position who wants to return
to a grade assignment, and is so qualified, shall indicate this desire in writing to
the Principal by March 31 for the following term. Reorganization for the following
term must then include said teacher as a classroom teacher if there is a
vacancy.
(g) If no vacancy exists, the Principal may assign any of the three (3) least
senior grade teachers to the specialist position.
(h) Teachers appointed to Early Childhood Programs shall be eligible to apply
for transfer to vacant positions in the public school program subject to transfer
provisions and certification requirements. The same applies to public school
teachers who wish to transfer to any of the Early Childhood Programs.
(i) Transfers shall be permitted between elementary, middle and senior high
schools. Transfers shall be based on seniority in accordance with the provisions
of this Article.
(j) Assignments and transfers of teachers will occur in the following order:
(1) The Office of Talent Acquisition honors right to return, rights to follow
and retention requests:
(2) The site selection process shall occur;
(3) At the end of the site selection process, all unfilled vacancies are
identified and listed with all other vacancies;
(4) Forced transfers and voluntary transfers are merged;
(5) Voluntary transfer requests for teachers with less than five (5) years
of building seniority are considered;
(6) Site selection reopens for new hires; and
(7) Voluntary transfer requests may be honored through August 31st and
will be permanent. Rights to Return requests may be honored through the leveling
date and will be permanent.
The Parties will meet and discuss any changes necessary for implementation
of the process described above prior to implementation.
3. Involuntary Transfers
This Section applies to positions that have been designated as seniority
transfers.
(a) For teachers with more than five (5) years of the appropriate seniority:
(1) Teachers who are being involuntarily transferred shall receive preference
on the basis of their system seniority;
(2) Teachers seeking voluntary transfers shall receive priority on the basis
of their years of location seniority;
(3) The lists developed from paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall be merged
on the basis of the number of years of appropriate seniority credit given.
(b) Teachers who are involuntarily transferred with five (5) years or less of
system seniority shall be ranked according to system seniority and shall receive
preference over all voluntary transfers with five (5) years or less of building
seniority.
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