Posts by Natalie Wexler — Contributor
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Greater Greater Education is going on hiatus for the holidays
Happy holidays, and we’ll see you next year! Keep reading…
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Thousands of DC kids will become dropouts unless they’re tutored in reading. Here are two ways to help them.
Well over half of DC’s 3rd graders read below grade level, a key indicator of trouble ahead. Two nonprofit programs aim to address that problem through tutoring. Both are getting promising results, but can either expand enough to serve the thousands of kids that need help? Children who can’t read on grade level by 3rd grade are 4 times more likely to drop out of school. Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Festivities for DC test gains, but not for graduation rates
DCPS celebrates test gains compared to other cities: Officials exulted in recent results showing DCPS as the only large city school district to make major gains across the board on tests given nationwide to 4th and 8th graders. But DC’s ranking is still below the urban average, and its achievement gap is the largest of any big city. (Post) But graduation rates only inched… Keep reading…
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DCPS students are getting better at taking tests, but are they getting better at thinking?
DC’s 4th- and 8th-graders outperformed every other large urban district in gains on recent standardized tests. That’s great, but does it tell us anything about how they’ll do in high school? DCPS is justifiably celebrating its students’ gains on recent standardized tests that are administered nationwide. The increases in scores here were larger… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Some teachers get an F at forum
Partisan crowd gives Gray a hard time: At a forum for mayoral candidates sponsored by the Washington Teachers Union (WTU), Mayor Vincent Gray faced hostile questions about school closures, teacher evaluations, and an emphasis on test scores. He got boos, while other candidates drew cheers for opposing some of those policies. (Post) And the media give teachers a scolding: … Keep reading…
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New reports compare DCPS and charters
DC’s education agencies have joined forces to produce a set of reports that make it easier to compare DCPS and charter schools. The new data include figures on special education students, suspensions, expulsions, and mobility during the last school year. The DC School Equity Reports, funded by the NewSchools Venture Fund, could help answer questions that until now have… Keep reading…
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Catania says empowering parents is key to improving schools
DC Councilmember David Catania answered questions Monday night from Greater Greater Education contributors and readers. In the course of a wide-ranging discussion, he called for empowering parents, improving middle school options, and generally addressing DC’s education issues with a fierce sense of urgency. Drawing on an impressive fund of knowledge acquired… Keep reading…
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Can nonprofits help extend the DCPS school day?
DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson has said she’d like to extend the school day, but the teachers’ union contract limits it to 7½ hours. To get around that, schools can partner with community organizations that provide the additional learning time. Washington Teachers Union President Liz Davis has said she’s skeptical about extending the school day… Keep reading…
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Playgrounds show how far DC has come in 20 years
Mayor Vincent Gray recently announced that DC will renovate 8 more playgrounds next year, bringing his “Play DC” project to a total of 40 playgrounds. That’s a far cry from the 1990s, when residents who wanted a new playground were basically left to fend for themselves. The District is allocating $1 million for each of those playground makeovers. And… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Education and the mayoral race
Catania ponders mayoral run: Councilmember David Catania, chair of the DC Council’s education committee, is launching an exploratory committee, saying he wants to see if he can do more for education as mayor. As an independent, he can wait until June, well after the April primary, to make a final decision. (City Paper) Mayoral hopeful Bowser jumps on middle school… Keep reading…