A D.C. charter network is requiring that all employees get vaccinated or lose their jobs, making it the largest public school network in the nation’s capital to enact such a strict vaccine mandate.
Rocketship Public Schools, a charter network with three elementary campuses in the District, informed its more than 185 employees this month that they must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 29 if they want to remain employees.
Candice Bobo, executive director of Rocketship’s D.C. campuses, said Friday that this mandate would keep the charter network’s 1,500 students — none of whom are old enough to be vaccinated — safe. In the first two weeks of the academic year, multiple unvaccinated staff members have tested positive for the virus, forcing students and other unvaccinated staff into quarantine.
“While I understand that for many people vaccines are a personal choice, it does impact the entire school community,” Bobo said. “It was really important for me to ensure that the adults in our school are vaccinated to protect our children.”
