Posts by Natalie Wexler — Contributor
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Morning bell: DC Council grills Henderson on DCPS budget
Chancellor defends proposed budget: At a DC Council hearing, Kaya Henderson dealt with questions for 4 hours about how the school system plans to spend money allocated for at-risk youth and other matters. (Post) Opposition to boundary change proposals, but from whom?: With few parents east of the river weighing in, some are cautioning against drawing conclusions from the reactions… Keep reading…
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Turning around a failing DCPS school isn’t impossible, but you need the right principal
There’s no set formula for the notoriously difficult task of turning around a failing school. But if you find the right principal and give him or her enough resources and freedom, you might be on your way. The pace of improvement at DCPS schools has generally been painfully slow, but a few have seen significant gains in proficiency in recent years while continuing to serve… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Too many students fail to show up for class
Truancy still a major problem in DCPS: With 32% of students missing more than 10 days of classes without a valid excuse, some schools are trying tactics like holding raffles for students who show up on time. (Post) Private philanthropy and DC charters: The Walton Family Foundation has played a key role in the growth of charter schools in DC and elsewhere. (NY Times) Catania… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: An Arabic immersion charter school in Ward 3 and other possibilities
New charter schools?: The DC Public Charter School Board heard proposals for 8 new schools, including an Arabic immersion school for Ward 3 and two boarding high schools. Some proposals fared better than others. (Post, Examiner) Career academies: High-school-based career-training programs are increasing in Maryland and Virginia schools, thanks to federal funding. (Post) Higher… Keep reading…
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DC may have universal access to preschool, but low-income kids need more than access
DC has led the country in giving its residents universal access to preschool, and and New York and other cities are now following suit. But if preschool is going to close the achievement gap for low-income kids, it has to be high-quality. And even that may not be enough to do the trick. A good preschool program teaches all children the social and emotional skills that will help ensure… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Anxiety continues over boundary change proposals
The end of neighborhood schools?: Proposals from the DC committee on student assignments have led some to wonder if school lotteries are the wave of the future. (Post) Changes could hurt schools that are working: Councilmember Mary Cheh says the student assignment proposals could “wind up ruining” Ward 3 schools, and some parents whose current assigned schools… Keep reading…
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Greater Greater Education is on hiatus this week
We’re away for spring break. Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Bowser takes a position on school boundaries but keeps other issues open
Candidates on school boundary proposals: Democratic mayoral nominee Muriel Bowser opposes cutting neighborhoods east of the park out of the Deal-Wilson feeder pattern, and presumptive independent candidate David Catania would “press pause” on the whole thing until schools have been improved. (Post) Bowser cagey on keeping Henderson: The candidate met with… Keep reading…
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Why are so many DCPS schools listed as 99% low-income? It’s not necessarily because they are.
Publicly available education data shows that many DCPS schools have a 99% poverty rate. But that figure is based on an average and doesn’t reflect the actual number of poor kids at any particular DCPS school. In the past, each DCPS school counted how many of its students were eligible for free and reduced-price meals (FARMs). Last year, DCPS began participating in a federal… Keep reading…
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Contributor forum: Changes in school boundaries and feeder patterns
The DC Advisory Committee on Student Assignment released its proposals for changing school boundaries and feeder patterns on Saturday. It’s a subject that evokes strong emotions and opinions. The committee, spearheaded by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME), floated three different scenarios reflecting different combinations of policy objectives. One… Keep reading…