Posts tagged Special Education
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Struggling readers in DC’s high schools need help from professional tutors
Many students in DC’s high-poverty middle and high schools have reading skills far below their grade level, and they’ve become disengaged from school as a result. We can get them back on track if we’re willing to invest in paid, professional tutors who will work with them intensively. In Ward 8’s three DC Public School middle schools, only about 25%… Keep reading…
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Here’s a school-by-school look at DC’s high school graduation rates
Graduation rates vary a lot among DC’s high schools. A series of graphics from the DC government shows just how different they can be. DC Public Schools had an overall four-year graduation rate of about 58% last year, up by only two percentage points from 2013. And the overall rate for the charter sector fell almost seven points, to 69%. To calculate the rate, statisticians… Keep reading…
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Mystery callers try to ensure that DC charters admit special needs students
Nationally, public charter schools serve fewer students with special needs than traditional public schools do, and some charge that charters are screening such students out. But for the past three years, DC’s Public Charter School Board has been deploying a “mystery caller” program to prevent that from happening here. Over the past couple of months, DC… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: DCPS responds to competition from charters
Knocking on students’ doors: DCPS is sending principals door-to-door to boost enrollment, with training provided by political campaign experts. (Post) Not enough coordination?: A new science-oriented charter school will open this fall across the street from a DCPS school with the same focus, leading DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson to call for joint planning between… Keep reading…
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We’re moving to California because DC schools can’t or won’t serve our son’s special needs
This summer my family is moving to San Francisco so that my disabled son can attend kindergarten. While we are excited about the next chapter of our lives in the Bay Area, we expected until recently to live in DC, and in Georgetown, the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, that plan changed when we ran into obstruction and hostility from DC Public Schools and local private schools… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Education-related developments in the DC mayoral race
Bowser would keep Henderson: The Democratic mayoral nominee ended her previous noncommittal stance and made it clear that, if elected, she would keep the current DCPS Chancellor. (Post) Schools and the DC mayoral race: Politico takes a look at the prominence of education issues in the contest between DC Councilmembers Muriel Bowser and David Catania. Westboro 10, Wilson… 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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Morning bell: Anxiety continues over boundary change proposals
The end of neighborhood schools?: Proposals from the DC committee on student assignments have led some to wonder if school lotteries are the wave of the future. (Post) Changes could hurt schools that are working: Councilmember Mary Cheh says the student assignment proposals could “wind up ruining” Ward 3 schools, and some parents whose current assigned schools… 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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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…