Posts by Ken Archer — Contributor
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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…