( CNN ) -- A Rhode Island high school that fired all its teachers in February has reached a tentative agreement with the school 's teachers union to rehire them , the union announced Sunday . The school board of the Central Falls School District , outside Providence , had voted to fire 93 staff members from its high school -- including teachers , administrators and other personnel -- over low student performance . The deal between the union and the school district allows teachers to return to work for the 2010-2011 school year without having to reapply for their jobs , though the union said Sunday that `` teachers will need to recommit to their jobs and interview with the new principal . '' The agreement , which must still be ratified by teachers , includes measures to improve student achievement , including a longer school day , targeted professional development for teachers and more after-school tutoring , the statement from the Central Falls Teachers Union said . The school district and union have been working with a mediator since March . `` There has always been agreement on these points : that we all want what is best for our students , and that significant changes are needed at Central Falls High School , '' teachers union president Jane Sessums said in the statement . `` Working together , we and the district have arrived at a solid , forward-looking agreement that provides support for our students and the tools our teachers need to help them succeed . '' A teacher ratification vote on the deal is scheduled for Monday afternoon . In a move that drew national attention , the Central Falls school board had voted 5-2 to approve a plan by the school district 's superintendent to fire its high school staff , including the principal , three assistant principals and 77 teachers . The vote came after the high school , which draws students from an impoverished enclave of Rhode Island , graduated just 48 percent of its seniors last year . Of Central Falls ' 800 students , 65 percent are Hispanic and for most of them , English is a second language . Half the students are failing every subject , with 55 percent skilled in reading and 7 percent proficient in math , officials said earlier this year . President Obama publicly endorsed the school board 's vote . `` Our kids get only one chance at an education and we need to get it right , '' he said in March . But the move outraged the school 's teachers , who argued that they 'd accepted most terms of a plan by the school district 's superintendent to improve student performance . The plan approved by the school board in February allowed teachers to re-apply for their jobs but stipulated that no more than 50 percent would get rehired . The firings would have gone into effect at the end of this school year . `` From the start , my principal concern was not who would be working at the high school , but whether the new school leadership team would have the flexibility it needed to improve student achievement , '' Central Falls superintendent Fran Gallo said in the statement provided by the teacher 's union . `` Today 's agreement provides this flexibility . '' Rhode Island officials applauded the tentative deal . `` I 'm glad both sides have ... [ reached ] this agreement , '' Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist said , according to the union 's statement . `` Now it 's time to move forward and work together to make Central Falls High one of the best in Rhode Island . ''
Rhode Island high school that fired all its teachers reaches tentative agreement to rehire them . Score: 7 The deal includes measures to improve student achievement . The agreement still must be ratified by teachers .