Rhee: Laid-off D.C. teachers abused kids

WASHINGTON | D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee tells a magazine that some of the 266 teachers laid off in October had sex with children or hit them.

But Rhee provided no specifics to back up the claim.

The February issue of Fast Company quotes Rhee saying of the layoffs: “I got rid of teachers who had hit children, who had had sex with children, who had missed 78 days of school.”

The official reason for the cuts was a budget deficit.

Washington Teachers Union president George Parker says the union received no information that any of the 266 was accused of sexual misconduct against children. He said one teacher faced action for administering corporal punishment.

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray says any abuse should have been reported to police. He wants Rhee to explain her comments Monday.