Posts by Celine Tobal — Guest Contributor
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Despite officials’ claims, DC hasn’t reached universal pre-K
Just a few years after setting a goal of “universal” pre-kindergarten, DC education officials claim they reached it. But many parents are still getting turned away at their local schools. Do we really have universal pre-K? Local auditors and independent reports conclude that the answer is no. The problem is worst east of the Anacostia, but reaches all wards. This… Keep reading…
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DC Council and OSSE dragging feet on community schools
When the DC Council gave control of the schools to the mayor in 2007, the law required DC to create community schools, but there has been little progress since. The Council can rectify this problem by passing a proposed law to create incentives for community schools. Community schools are schools that provide after-hours services to students and their families and communities. … Keep reading…
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Some special needs kids still falling through DCPS cracks
DC Public Schools recently opened a second facility to serve DC parents who are concerned that their preschool-age child may have a disability or a developmental delay. However, as a judge’s ruling made clear last week, ineffective managers of these facilities are allowing children with special needs to fall through the cracks. This is not only tragic for these children, but… Keep reading…
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DCPS needs more than money to attract top teachers
DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown plans to draft a bill that focuses on recruiting teachers to teach in high-poverty, low-performing schools. However, the incentives he proposes may not be enough to recruit highly effective teachers to work in these schools. Past research on state incentive programs suggests that monetary incentives don’t actually do enough to recruit… Keep reading…