Posts tagged Diversity
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Worried about redrawing school boundaries? Why not try controlled choice zones instead?
DC Councilmembers voiced anxiety about an impending change in school boundaries at a hearing last week. But instead of redrawing boundaries, maybe we should replace them with school choice zones. Three education policy analysts recently penned an op-ed in the Washington Post calling for “controlled choice zones” in parts of DC. They suggested that in… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: DC schools may get more money per pupil, but how much aid will those pupils get for college?
More money for DC schools?: A DC-government commissioned study has recommended that funding increase by about $2,000 per pupil, and that poor and other “at-risk” students should get more than that. The study, which will form the basis for Mayor Vincent Gray’s budget, also concluded that DC has not been funding charter schools at a level equal to DCPS schools,… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Building communities
Neighborhoods reflect disparities; DC’s first mixed-income redevelopment; Placemaking builds community; Trolley Trail connected; Public-private partnerships hit roadblocks; A glow-in-the-dark bike path; Demand, meet supply; And…. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: To the ‘burbs
Wealthy cluster in suburbs after having kids; Biking heads to the ‘burbs; Design places for everyone, not cars; ICC’s broken promises; Tea Party challenges streetcar supporter’s voting rights; More mall at Pentagon City?; Metro back to pre-shutdown normal; New online information hub for DC transportation; And…. Keep reading…
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Montgomery schools can’t coast on their good reputation
A Montgomery County school board member once told me, “There are no bad schools in Montgomery County.” This is sort of true, but so stellar a reputation often distracts people from the real problems Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) faces, such as a persistent achievement gap, de facto segregation by class and race, and suggestions of middle-class flight. Keep reading…
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DC’s most diverse charter schools
Which DC charter schools are the most racially and ethnically diverse? Here’s a list. To parents, the most important features of a school may include quality of instruction, proximity to home, and safety. These preferences matter in a place like DC where charter schools and choice are so prevalent. But many parents also look for another factor: racial and ethnic diversity. The… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s experiment with school choice really isn’t
Each fall, thousands of 8th graders in Montgomery County participate in Maryland’s oldest experiment in school choice, the Northeast and Downcounty consortia. Intended to prevent the school system’s growing segregation, the consortia’s 8 schools are not only more isolated than before, but academic performance has suffered. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Playing chicken
Yes or no to urban chickens?; Lay off DC, national writers; Induced demand for restaurants; Open a business for $1; New VRE station stalled; Rail ridership ups and downs; Cyclist diversity grows; And…. Keep reading…
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DC drifting towards separate school systems. Are they equal?
DC Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced yesterday that DCPS plans to close 20 schools. All of the closed schools are east of Rock Creek Park, and 9 are east of the Anacostia River. In these areas, charter schools continue to grow and DCPS neighborhood schools shrink, while families are clamoring to attend neighborhood schools in the wealthiest parts of the District. The… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Trick or treat
Walkable = trick-or-treatable; Start up in Anacostia; Shut the door; Belward cleared for building; Charters lead to integration; Roads get emergency money faster; Not a safe route to school; Metro opens data; how can you use it?; And…. Keep reading…