Photo by Nick Webb on Flickr.

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 at the DC Public Charter School Board was involved in self-dealing at Options PCS, which serves at-risk kids. Jeremy Williams was in charge of monitoring business practices at charter schools, but lawyers for the DC government now say he was actually aiding and abetting financial mischief. (Post)

DC Councilmembers question nominee’s fitness: Tommy Wells and David Grosso say they’re not sure that Mayor Vincent Gray’s pick for State Superintendent of Education, Jesus Aguirre, is up to the job. (Washington Informer)

A dearth of new ideas in the “education election?:” Jonetta Rose Baras finds little to celebrate in either the District’s recent test scores or the education plans put forward by various candidates in the Democratic mayoral primary. (Post)

DCPS holds off on plan to split School Without Walls between two campuses: The selective public high school won’t be sending some of its students to classes at the former Francis-Stevens Education Campus next year, as originally planned. Some parents objected that students would lose time commuting between the two campuses, which are a mile and a half apart. (NW Current)

Montgomery County will survey students about math exams: Still puzzled about why so many high school students fail a countywide final while getting passing grades in their math classes, school officials say they will ask students how they think about and prepare for the tests. (Post)

Prince George’s schools get more top-level officials: Schools Chief Executive Kevin Maxwell says the new hires are necessary for the system to be effective, but critics say the $1.53 million could be better spent on instruction. (Post)

Former Virginia first lady in line to be state education secretary: Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe has nominated Anne Holton for the state’s top education post. Holton, the wife of former governor and current senator Tim Kaine, has been a juvenile court judge and the director of a program that helps foster children go to college. (Post)

Fairfax overcrowding relegates some teachers to carts instead of classrooms: Although one outfitted her cart with holiday bells, these teachers say their nomadic existence is no cause for celebration. (Post)

What happens to dropouts?: WAMU’s Kavitha Cardoza explores the question in a four-part series, “Yesterday’s Dropouts.”

New teacher evaluation system in New York encounters problems: Teachers and administrators are having some trouble adjusting to a system similar to the one that DCPS uses. (NY Times)

Upcoming events:

The DC Public Education Festival will be held on January 11 at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, from 10 am to 5 pm. The event will feature exhibits by individual schools, an area devoted to the new school lottery, student performances, and group workshops on topics such as choosing schools and healthy living. Admission is free.