Posts tagged Arne Duncan
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Morning bell: Report on school discipline prompts legislation and yields some surprises
Ease up on preschoolers: Reacting to a recent report on school discipline from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DC Councilmember David Grosso introduced a bill that would prohibit DCPS and charter schools from expelling or suspending pre-kindergarteners. (Post) 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: More students take AP classes, with varying levels of success
The number who pass AP exams varies across the region: The number of students who take AP classes has almost doubled nationwide in the past 10 years, and the number of low-income students has almost quadrupled. Maryland led the country in the percentage of seniors who earned passing scores last year, with 30%, and Virginia was close behind at 28%. In DC, an entirely urban district, the… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: What to do when the snow falls
Differing views on snow days: Some parents in the DC area feel that schools close down more often than they should, and some in Loudoun were particularly upset when the county canceled classes for an entire week that included midterm exams. But a Harvard study says that weather-related shutdowns may actually be better than the alternative in terms of effects on academic achievement. … Keep reading…
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Options PCS cheated special ed students of services
Options Public Charter School routinely denied students with disabilities textbooks and placed them in overcrowded classrooms, according to current and former teachers at the school. The mounting allegations raise questions about the lack of special education oversight in DC. DC’s Attorney General has alleged that former managers of the school diverted… Keep reading…
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Morning Bell: Scores go up, but why and where?
DC test scores rise: DC leads the nation in test score growth for both reading and math. All racial groups made gains, although a large achievement gap still exists between white students and those who are black or Hispanic. DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and others attributed the higher scores to school reforms and higher expectations for teachers… Keep reading…
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Test scores rise. Is it better education or gentrification?
DC students’ scores grew dramatically on national standardized tests, more than almost every state. This is good news, but it’s hard to know whether the gains actually mean we’re educating students better, or just that more wealthy families are sending their kids to DC schools. The Washington Post editorial board isn’t hesitating to claim credit… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Boundary and feeder patterns get a facelift
Task force re-evaluates lines drawn in the 1970’s: A committee of education officials and other stakeholders has begun the process of changing the way DCPS assigns students to schools. Other residents can participate through focus and working groups. Some are concerned that a proposal to include charters in feeder patterns will limit choice. (Post, DME, Examiner)… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Education is still a civil rights battleground
Civil rights leaders address students: On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, civil rights leaders urged students at School Without Walls to continue fighting injustice, while DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan identified education as a civil right that has not yet been achieved for all. (Post)… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Look inside a school
High school life; Schools under mayors raise achievement; Rewards for “achievers”; Deputy Mayor Smith; Where to put Ward 5 middle school?; Maddening incentives; Pop Tart guns OK?. Keep reading…