Posts tagged Osse
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Morning bell: Why were charter schools an issue in New York’s mayoral race but not DC’s?
Charters here are a fact of life: None of the mayoral candidates in DC has campaigned against charter schools the way Bill deBlasio did in New York, and one reason is that New York has limited the number of charters. (Sara Mead’s Policy Notebook, Ed Week) DC faulted on low-performing schools: DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education hasn’t pressed… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: No-no’s in managing federal funds and administering tests
Federal aid to DC schools on hold: The Education Department said it had concerns about DC officials’ management of money targeted at improving 8 DCPS schools. (Post) Testing irregularities: Two charter schools and two DCPS schools had their standardized test scores thrown out because of serious violations of testing procedures. Less serious violations were found… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Has the Gray administration made real progress on education?
Mayor Gray’s record on education questioned: Vincent Gray touts a rise in scores, but critics point to problems: the state of middle schools and special education, and the persistent gap in achievement between wealthier and lower-income students. (Post) Not to mention OSSE: The Office of the State Superintendent, which oversees standardized testing and special education… 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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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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How can education data help you?
Is there data about education in DC that you’d like to have? Let us know before this weekend’s hackathon, when data enthusiasts and experts will gather to analyze it. Almost a year ago, Greater Greater Education kicked off with a post about how open data can help families with confusing school choices. Since then, several DC education agencies have released data… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Mistakes have been made
Some DC teachers got erroneous evaluations: DCPS revealed that 44 teachers received evaluations based on a mistaken calculation of the “value” they had added, as reflected in their students’ test scores. Half were rated too highly, and the other half too low. (Post) More troubles at charter school: New court filings allege that a former senior official… Keep reading…
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New reports compare DCPS and charters
DC’s education agencies have joined forces to produce a set of reports that make it easier to compare DCPS and charter schools. The new data include figures on special education students, suspensions, expulsions, and mobility during the last school year. The DC School Equity Reports, funded by the NewSchools Venture Fund, could help answer questions that until now have… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Middle schools in the spotlight
One DCPS middle school dies: Shaw MS entered a downward spiral after the murder of its principal in 2010 and was closed at the end of the last school year. (WAMU) And the birth of another is delayed: In the wake of controversy over the quality of DCPS’s middle school offerings, officials announced that the opening of Brookland MS will be delayed one year, until the fall of 2015. 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…