Posts by Ken Archer — Contributor
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Create one single lottery for charter and non-charter schools
The current application process for DC’s charter and non-charter public schools is a chaotic mess that confuses parents and hurts education for students. DC could fix many problems by creating a centralized lottery process for all public schools, charter and non-charter. Steve Glazerman called for a centralized application for charter schools in 2010. Since then,… Keep reading…
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Let’s attract companies with our workers, not with subsidies
DC has grown its private sector by investing in urban amenities that attract a 21st century workforce. Other states simply give companies direct subsidies to attract them instead, providing little external benefit. But the DC Council is about to do exactly that, by giving LivingSocial a $32.5 million location subsidy with few strings attached. DC’s sizable,… Keep reading…
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Auditors confirm: DC’s pre-K, while laudable, is not universal
DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) disputed our report last week that auditors believe the District has not reached universal pre-K. But parents are being turned away across the city, and the auditors confirmed that pre-K, while it has grown significantly, is still not universal. In a statement, OSSE suggested a fairly simple definition of “universal… Keep reading…
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LivingSocial tax deal needs stronger hiring requirements to grow a tech hub in DC
The $32.5 million LivingSocial tax package is supposed to grow DC’s technology sector. However, its weak hiring requirements mean that the deal is not structured to help the District create a tech hub. The requirements are so weak that LivingSocial would get most of the package without hiring DC residents, or even retaining and adding technology-related… Keep reading…
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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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Georgetown and neighbors agree on residential campus
Georgetown University and leaders in surrounding neighborhoods have reached agreement on a groundbreaking campus plan that envisions a more residential campus. Leading universities such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton have adopted a similar residential college model, which integrates students’ intellectual and residential life while creating fewer impacts… Keep reading…
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Amid scandal, don’t lose sight of Gray’s policy achievements
The charges filed yesterday against Vincent Gray’s former assistant campaign treasurer will surely reinforce the image in many voters’ minds of a scandal-plagued mayor who has accomplished nothing for the District. The scandals may be real, but his administration has also racked up some important achievements across the government. Instead of halting progress… Keep reading…
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What can DC learn from its successful subsidies?
New data from the Office of the DC CFO reveals that the initial wave of development subsidies, such as Gallery Place, have repaid to the city well ahead of schedule. While excellent news for the city’s finances, these subsidies also provide important lessons that some present-day corporate subsidies don’t always follow. The hefty return to the city’s… Keep reading…
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Will LivingSocial help build a tech hub in DC?
Mayor Gray wants to expand a tax incentive, aimed at tech companies, to give LivingSocial up to $32.5 million in tax breaks over the next 5 years. The company threatened to move to Northern Virginia if it didn’t get the tax break. Is it worth this money for DC to keep them? One major rationale for giving tax breaks to tech companies is to create a “tech hub,” a concentration… Keep reading…
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Parents deserve more details on Ward 5 middle school plan
Parents and policymakers worry that two newly planned middle schools may not go far enough to improve the mediocre middle school options for Ward 5 families. DCPS should create Local School Advisory Teams for these new schools, before they are built, to leverage parental initiative to ensure the success of these schools. Critics include a councilmember and the… Keep reading…