Posts by Natalie Wexler — Contributor
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Preschool tutoring program aims to close the literacy gap for low-income DC children
Most low-income children start school with literacy skills that lag way behind their higher-income peers. A tutoring program that is coming to two DCPS preschools this fall is trying to change that. Reading Corps, a tutoring program that started in Minnesota a decade ago, now operates in 8 states and DC. The program has two components that are organized differently: one for students… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Vacancies on DC’s State Board of Education
Open positions: The Washington Post has endorsed Phil Pannell for the recently vacated Ward 8 seat on the DC State Board of Education, in a race that will be decided by a July 15 special election. And the Ward 6 representative, who has called for giving the board more responsibility, won’t run for re-election in November. (Post) Teachers’ union blocking extended… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: DCPS responds to competition from charters
Knocking on students’ doors: DCPS is sending principals door-to-door to boost enrollment, with training provided by political campaign experts. (Post) Not enough coordination?: A new science-oriented charter school will open this fall across the street from a DCPS school with the same focus, leading DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson to call for joint planning between… Keep reading…
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Greater Greater Education is on hiatus
Greater Greater Education is on hiatus and will return on July 7th. Keep reading…
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Morning bell: New boundary proposals raise a host of questions
Boundaries and school quality: At the first of 3 meetings on the new student assignment proposals, parents from east of the Anacostia River voiced concerns about being relegated to the District’s lower-performing schools. (Post) New middle schools?: The proposals call for 4 new middle schools and major changes in assignment patterns at that grade level, but it’s… Keep reading…
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New graduation requirements could bring radical change to DC high schools
The DC State Board of Education will soon propose new graduation requirements that would spell out two basic diploma types, a standard one and another signifying greater accomplishment. They would also introduce a potentially radical new way of assessing students based on competency rather than the number of hours spent in class. For the past two years the Board has been working… Keep reading…
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New boundary proposals may have a better chance of increasing the number of high-quality schools
The second round of proposals issued by DC’s committee on student assignment backtracks from the idea of lotteries and returns to a system of neighborhood schools. But the new, less radical proposals may actually have a better chance of improving school quality, at least in some parts of the District. The original impetus for revising school boundaries and feeder patterns… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Back to the drawing board on student assignment proposals
Farewell to choice sets: The revised school boundary proposals return to a system of by-right neighborhood schools, but the shrinkage of boundaries for the most desirable middle and high schools will leave some residents unhappy. (Post) High school changes: Some schools, like Cardozo, Dunbar, and Eastern, would experience huge changes in their catchment areas under the… Keep reading…
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After lottery’s second round, about 2,500 students are still not matched with schools
The results of the second round of DC’s school lottery are out: 58% of applicants were matched with schools, and of those 86% got one of their top three choices, according to DC officials. Although the percentage that got one of their top choices is about the same as in the first round, the percentage that got matched at all is significantly lower. In the first round, 71% found… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Education-related developments in the DC mayoral race
Bowser would keep Henderson: The Democratic mayoral nominee ended her previous noncommittal stance and made it clear that, if elected, she would keep the current DCPS Chancellor. (Post) Schools and the DC mayoral race: Politico takes a look at the prominence of education issues in the contest between DC Councilmembers Muriel Bowser and David Catania. Westboro 10, Wilson… Keep reading…