Posts by Ken Archer — Contributor
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WMATA mulls allowing unfolded umbrella strollers on Metrobus
WMATA bans open strollers on buses, but GGWash columnist Stephen Repetski writes that per its newest Amplify survey, the agency appears to be considering relaxing the policy. Keep reading…
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Test scores are not improving for at-risk student groups
DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced the system’s 2014 test scores yesterday, saying “we’re continuing on an upward trajectory.” However, a closer look at the scores reveals a stagnant or downward trajectory for black, Hispanic, low-income, English language learner, and special education students in the last five years. Keep reading…
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Many Silver Line riders have no way to safely reach their offices
Tysons now has four Metro stations, but workers trying to get from those stations to nearby offices often have no choice but to cross wide, high-speed roads without any crosswalks. Keep reading…
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Private school says it could have taken over troubled special needs charter if it had been asked earlier
A troubled DC charter school for kids with special needs will stay open for one more year under the management of a court-appointed receiver. But a private DC-area school with experience in special education could have taken over the school if it had been contacted earlier, according to an official at the school. The Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted yesterday to allow… Keep reading…
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Where is the DC tech hub? It keeps moving
DC officials are trying hard to woo technology companies to DC, and one strategy to do that is to establish a place in the city with a critical mass of tech jobs. But the location officials say they are focusing on keeps moving. Before 2002, DC offered a tax break to high tech companies, as long as they located in one of multiple “high tech development zones.” Those encompassed… Keep reading…
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Data, data all around, but not the test data we need
We appear to be awash in school performance data. But the data we have in DC can’t answer some crucial questions about how much students are actually learning. Teachers who want to know how much they have helped their students learn can’t tell that from looking at DC’s standardized test scores. But other states are using their test data to help teachers answer… Keep reading…
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Most DC schools aren’t serving special needs kids the way they’re supposed to
Most public school operators in DC fail to meet the requirements of federal special education law, according to information recently released by DC officials. We’ve got a list of schools and their ratings. Every year, the federal government requires all states and the District of Columbia to assess how well public schools are implementing the Individuals with Disabilities… Keep reading…
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Car-free family trip idea: Baltimore
If you have young children and don’t own a car or just don’t like driving, you know what a pain weekend trips can be. With the new weekend MARC service to Baltimore, Charm City can be a fun family car-free trip, especially when the weather calls for indoor activities. I’ve taken my 5-year-old son to Baltimore for car-free weekends about 6 times, and he is… Keep reading…
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There’s a test that may give us a clearer picture of student growth, but DCPS is reluctant to consider it
Next year DC students will be taking new standardized tests aligned to the Common Core. Some are urging education officials to adopt a test that will provide a more accurate measure of student growth, but DCPS is reluctant, saying the switch might undermine confidence. DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) recently suggested considering a Common-Core-aligned… Keep reading…
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Most mayoral challengers oppose reducing parking minimums
At a forum last month, four candidates for DC mayor argued against a proposal by the Office of Planning to relax minimum parking requirements in transit-rich areas of the city. Andy Shallal and Tommy Wells didn’t address it directly, though Shallal argued for more parking capacity while Wells argued for reducing parking demand. Keep reading…