Posts by Ken Archer
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Test scores are not improving for at-risk student groups
DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced the system’s 2014 test scores yesterday, saying “we’re continuing on an upward trajectory.” However, a closer look at the scores reveals a stagnant or downward trajectory for black, Hispanic, low-income, English language learner, and special education students in the last five years. Keep reading…
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Many Silver Line riders have no way to safely reach their offices
Tysons now has four Metro stations, but workers trying to get from those stations to nearby offices often have no choice but to cross wide, high-speed roads without any crosswalks. Keep reading…
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Private school says it could have taken over troubled special needs charter if it had been asked earlier
A troubled DC charter school for kids with special needs will stay open for one more year under the management of a court-appointed receiver. But a private DC-area school with experience in special education could have taken over the school if it had been contacted earlier, according to an official at the school. The Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted yesterday to allow… Keep reading…
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Where is the DC tech hub? It keeps moving
DC officials are trying hard to woo technology companies to DC, and one strategy to do that is to establish a place in the city with a critical mass of tech jobs. But the location officials say they are focusing on keeps moving. Before 2002, DC offered a tax break to high tech companies, as long as they located in one of multiple “high tech development zones.” Those encompassed… Keep reading…
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Data, data all around, but not the test data we need
We appear to be awash in school performance data. But the data we have in DC can’t answer some crucial questions about how much students are actually learning. Teachers who want to know how much they have helped their students learn can’t tell that from looking at DC’s standardized test scores. But other states are using their test data to help teachers answer… Keep reading…
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Most DC schools aren’t serving special needs kids the way they’re supposed to
Most public school operators in DC fail to meet the requirements of federal special education law, according to information recently released by DC officials. We’ve got a list of schools and their ratings. Every year, the federal government requires all states and the District of Columbia to assess how well public schools are implementing the Individuals with Disabilities… Keep reading…
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Car-free family trip idea: Baltimore
If you have young children and don’t own a car or just don’t like driving, you know what a pain weekend trips can be. With the new weekend MARC service to Baltimore, Charm City can be a fun family car-free trip, especially when the weather calls for indoor activities. I’ve taken my 5-year-old son to Baltimore for car-free weekends about 6 times, and he is… Keep reading…
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There’s a test that may give us a clearer picture of student growth, but DCPS is reluctant to consider it
Next year DC students will be taking new standardized tests aligned to the Common Core. Some are urging education officials to adopt a test that will provide a more accurate measure of student growth, but DCPS is reluctant, saying the switch might undermine confidence. DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) recently suggested considering a Common-Core-aligned… Keep reading…
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Most mayoral challengers oppose reducing parking minimums
At a forum last month, four candidates for DC mayor argued against a proposal by the Office of Planning to relax minimum parking requirements in transit-rich areas of the city. Andy Shallal and Tommy Wells didn’t address it directly, though Shallal argued for more parking capacity while Wells argued for reducing parking demand. Keep reading…
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Worried about redrawing school boundaries? Why not try controlled choice zones instead?
DC Councilmembers voiced anxiety about an impending change in school boundaries at a hearing last week. But instead of redrawing boundaries, maybe we should replace them with school choice zones. Three education policy analysts recently penned an op-ed in the Washington Post calling for “controlled choice zones” in parts of DC. They suggested that in… Keep reading…
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Charter board failed to act on violations of special ed law
Last night the DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) took the first step towards closing a school serving many students with special needs that has been accused of numerous failings. However, newly released documents show that the PCSB knew of widespread violations at the school in June of last year and took no apparent action. DC’s Attorney General has alleged that former… Keep reading…
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Options PCS cheated special ed students of services
Options Public Charter School routinely denied students with disabilities textbooks and placed them in overcrowded classrooms, according to current and former teachers at the school. The mounting allegations raise questions about the lack of special education oversight in DC. DC’s Attorney General has alleged that former managers of the school diverted… Keep reading…
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DC will gain statehood by acting like a state
Councilmember David Grosso has called for Mayor Gray to pay DC employees during the federal government shutdown and to implement DC laws without submitting them to Congress for approval. His actions show us that the path to statehood isn’t through protest, but by simply living as free citizens of a state. Until this point, DC residents relegated to second-rate status… Keep reading…
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Allegations on test scores miss the whole story
DC Council Education Committee Chair David Catania has alleged that testing officials inflated the percentage of students reported as “proficient” on standardized tests given earlier this year. Officials say they were just trying to ensure this year’s scores could be compared with those from previous years. But according to multiple sources, the real… Keep reading…
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Mayor announces 9 Career Academies for DC youth
Mayor Gray yesterday announced the creation of 9 Career Academies within public high schools. The Academies will operate as schools-within-schools and provide career-specific internships and occupational training integrated with regular high school coursework. The Academies, based on a model found nationwide, are expected to boost academic and occupational… Keep reading…
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What drives the growth of DC’s tech sector?
DC has lavished attention and subsidies on a few tech companies to bolster its economy. But the growth of tech firms in and around Dupont Circle suggests that investing in an attractive urban space is a more effective way to grow a local tech scene. DC has a flourishing tech scene, as seen in the growth of several coworking spaces, where startups can get work done and find community. Keep reading…
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Are demographic changes behind test score improvements?
DC Mayor Vincent Gray announced record increases in test scores last month, attributing the gains to his education reform policies. But could demographic changes in DC be responsible for the increases? The answer is: we don’t know. Mayor Gray and DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson have claimed that the increases validate their education reform policies and show… Keep reading…
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Workforce development can solve poverty in DC
The challenge of poverty in DC can feel overwhelming. What can any one person do? Experts largely agree that workforce development is the solution, and the good news is that you can have a big impact. Workforce development is the systematic removal of barriers to employment, whatever they may be, that jobless residents face. There are many stereotypes about the causes of poverty… Keep reading…
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Most Ward 2 neighborhoods oppose visitor parking passes
Most of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in DC’s Ward 2 have passed resolutions saying they don’t want a free visitor parking placard program in their neighborhoods. The commissions went on record on this issue up to a year ago, but last week, transportation officials announced that they’ll expand the program citywide anyway. Ward 2 Councilmember… Keep reading…
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Workforce, business development creates jobs, not Walmart
Last week, the DC Council passed an act that requires big box retailers to pay a living wage, and Walmart threatened not to build 3 of 6 planned stores here. Opponents say it’s proof that the Large Retailer Accountability Act will kill jobs, but there are better, proven ways to encourage economic development. Economic development experts know what works: a long term coordinated… Keep reading…
