Posts by Natalie Wexler — Contributor
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High-poverty schools need better teachers, but getting them there won’t be easy
DC needs to increase the number of highly qualified teachers who work in high-poverty schools. But doing that could require a fundamental change in the way DC Public Schools evaluates and supports teachers. DCPS teachers who get high ratings are more likely to work in schools serving relatively affluent students. That’s typical of school districts across the… Keep reading…
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Mystery callers try to ensure that DC charters admit special needs students
Nationally, public charter schools serve fewer students with special needs than traditional public schools do, and some charge that charters are screening such students out. But for the past three years, DC’s Public Charter School Board has been deploying a “mystery caller” program to prevent that from happening here. Over the past couple of months, DC… Keep reading…
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Some needy DCPS students are getting a lot less funding than others
Last year, the DC Council passed legislation designed to ensure that additional funds would be distributed equally among the District’s neediest students. A new interactive graphic shows that instead, some of those students are getting a lot less money than others. Keep reading…
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DCPS spotlights the needs of African-American and Latino males
DC Public Schools has announced a new initiative that will train a “laser-like focus” on African-American and Latino males, two groups that fare worst on many measures of academic achievement. But the effort, which includes a new all-boys high school, will inevitably leave some students in relative darkness. DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson recently unveiled… Keep reading…
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A book-of-the-month club for infants and toddlers aims to narrow the achievement gap
A new proposal to send a book a month to every DC child under five could help narrow the yawning literacy gap between poor and higher-income kids, which has its roots well before kindergarten. But ultimately, disadvantaged kids will need a lot more assistance than a book a month to catch up to their more affluent peers. Spurred by low achievement among DC’s low-income and… Keep reading…
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High test scores at many charter schools may actually be “false positives”
For years, many elementary schools serving low-income kids—particularly charter schools—have focused on teaching basic skills in reading and math. But now one nationally recognized charter leader says that to close the achievement gap, schools need a different approach. Will DC charters follow suit? Last month, a leader of Achievement First, a well-respected… Keep reading…
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The new chair of the DC Council’s education committee promises a change in style and substance
At-Large Councilmember David Grosso plans to adopt a less aggressive style than David Catania, his predecessor as education committee chair. Grosso says his main focus will be getting disadvantaged kids the services they need to do well in school. Back in December of 2012, David Catania was chomping at the bit to become chair of the education committee. “I’m so… Keep reading…
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Five things you should know about what happened this year in DC education
It’s been an eventful year for education in DC. Here’s a look back at some of the major developments. 1. Much talk but little substance in the race to be DC’s Education Mayor Education emerged as a pivotal issue in the 2014 mayoral contest. Muriel Bowser began her campaign with a slogan of Alice Deal for All, promising to replicate the success of Ward… Keep reading…
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In DC’s confusing thicket of school choice, there’s a guide for those who need help the most
Families in DC have an abundance of school options. But many low-income families don’t have access to the information they need to make good choices. Some argue that school choice will ultimately result in a better education system, as families gravitate to schools that perform well. The best schools will flourish, according to this view, and competition will… Keep reading…
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Wilson’s principal gets the axe even though test scores are up. Here’s a likely explanation
Wilson High School is the largest and most sought-after neighborhood high school in DC. On Friday, its principal announced that DC Public Schools had decided not to renew his contract for next year because standardized test scores at the school were unsatisfactory. How do these two facts fit together? Wilson’s principal, Pete Cahall, recently made headlines when he… Keep reading…