Posts tagged Education
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Ward 6 parents ask for answers on school funding
Schools in Ward 6 have seen tremendous growth in recent years, but some schools are losing funding next year. Many parents came to Mayor Gray’s Ward 6 Budget Town Hall last week up in arms about these changes. Enrollment is up, test scores are improving, and wait lists are long for several neighborhood elementary schools. There is growing support for the middle schools,… Keep reading…
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Why many DCPS students can’t write
Many DCPS high school students have trouble writing a grammatically correct sentence, let alone a cogent essay. If they can’t write, how will they fare in college? Or in life? For the past few months, I’ve been a volunteer writing tutor at a DCPS high school, working with 4 students selected by the school for their motivation and their promise. I wanted to help these… Keep reading…
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Bad advocacy research abounds on school reform
DC school reform was a failure, claims a new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). It’s a proven success, others insist. All sides of school reform debates are guilty of misinterpreting federal test data in ways that serve advocacy goals rather than finding truth. The EPI report blasts recent DC’s sweeping 2007 school reforms and similar efforts in Chicago… Keep reading…
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Why we chose Garrison Elementary
You don’t have to try very hard to find reasons to worry about sending a child to Garrison Elementary School. But next year, our 3 year-old will suit up in a yellow and blue uniform and walk the half-block from our house to Garrison for his first taste of school. Garrison — nestled beside million-dollar homes near U Street and Logan Circle — has blue cage-like panels… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Meet the new boss
Foxx for DOT; A gift to ethics; Franklin School draws interest; Will autonomy survive?; Concrete blame game; Last stop for gas; Transportation trends; Plant a tree. Keep reading…
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Education leaders want to end application “madness”
Parents trying to apply to out-of-boundary DC public schools or charter schools have to deal with a dizzying array of separate applications and last-minute shuffles. “It’s madness we’ve sent parents through,” said Councilmember David Catania last night, and called for a unified application and lottery for DCPS and charter schools. Catania was… Keep reading…
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The GED is changing. Is DC ready?
The GED has long provided an alternative path for students and adults who have not received their high school diploma. Several upcoming changes to the GED will make it more difficult for many District residents to pursue this path to a degree. The new test will require students to have background knowledge in certain subjects rather than simply demonstrate an understanding of… Keep reading…
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Families can learn and practice bike safety this weekend
Last month, we asked, what will get more families biking? We got lots of great suggestions. For families who want to get biking, an event this Sunday on Capitol Hill provides a great start. Kidical Mass DC, DDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association will put on ABCs of Family Biking. This free event is designed for families… Keep reading…
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Don’t forget about playgrounds
Playgrounds serve an important role in child development. They’re not just luxuries or “add-ons” in neighborhoods. Playgrounds and public parks are where children in cities gain crucial physical and social skills. To maximize learning during and after school, especially for our youngest learners, we should think about playgrounds as a public educational… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Silver Line playbook
Cheaper than we thought; Fairfax re-connects; Silverman asked Frumin to drop out; Did Mara break the rules?; WMATA board boards Metro; What’s Hoover’s replacement?; Older suburbs see teardowns; Carbon emissions in Fairfax; Franklin Park-ing lot?. Keep reading…