Posts by Joe Weedon — Guest Contributor
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How can we close our persistent education achievement gaps in DC?
Despite overall college-readiness gains, race and income-level gaps have actually grown in the most DC student test scores. What should the city do to address this problem? Keep reading…
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Eliot-Hine, a DC middle school, is falling apart
Katelyn Hollmon, a student at Eliot-Hine Middle School, cried when she testified before the DC Council last year, saying she and her classmates shouldn’t have to attend a school that reminds them of the homeless shelter where several of her friends live. “Just because we’re kids doesn’t mean we don’t have rights… It is not enough to believe… Keep reading…
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Ward 6 parents ask for answers on school funding
Schools in Ward 6 have seen tremendous growth in recent years, but some schools are losing funding next year. Many parents came to Mayor Gray’s Ward 6 Budget Town Hall last week up in arms about these changes. Enrollment is up, test scores are improving, and wait lists are long for several neighborhood elementary schools. There is growing support for the middle schools,… Keep reading…
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The GED is changing. Is DC ready?
The GED has long provided an alternative path for students and adults who have not received their high school diploma. Several upcoming changes to the GED will make it more difficult for many District residents to pursue this path to a degree. The new test will require students to have background knowledge in certain subjects rather than simply demonstrate an understanding of… Keep reading…
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Shocking rhetoric from John Townsend and AAA
This week’s Washington City Paper cover story quoted AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend calling Greater Greater Washington editor David Alpert “retarded” and a “ninny,” and comparing Greater Greater Washington to the Ku Klux Klan. Many other reporters, people on Twitter, and residents generally have clearly stated in response… Keep reading…
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One year later, how has “A Capital Commitment” worked?
Last April, Mayor Gray and DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced “A Capital Commitment,” a 5-year strategic plan “to provide every [DCPS] student with a safe, academically challenging and inspiring learning experience.” One year later, how has DCPS progressed toward these goals? In the plan and a video DCPS produced to launch the campaign,… Keep reading…
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A school that wasn’t small before may now be small
The DCPS budget allocations for next year contained a major surprise for some communities: allocations to schools for art, music, foreign language, and library as well as office and support staff funding changed. Schools that had qualified last year are suddenly under the threshold for full-time staffing, which increased from 300 to 400 students. Maury Elementary, for example,… Keep reading…
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Is pre-K in DC working?
DC has made a major commitment to pre-kindergarten education. Are these programs improving kids’ performance in the rest of their education? Based on information available so far, we don’t know for sure. We do know that a pre-K program has to be high quality to make a difference, and some do better than others. In his State of the Union address, President Obama proposed… Keep reading…