Two DC charter franchisors—KIPP DC and DC Prep—applied in January with the DC public charter school board to create five new schools and almost 4000 new school seats. The charter board will vote on both schools’ plans at its meeting on April 24. (Public comment on both applications is due March 20 and can be … Continue reading Happening Right Now: Proposals for Five New DC Schools–and Almost 4000 New School Seats

Meetings: New DCPS chancellor Antwan Wilson will be holding public meetings in every ward this spring. All meetings are from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and will have some food and childcare. Here is a flyer with more information. Ward 7: Tuesday, March 7, Ron Brown HS, 4800 Meade Street NE Ward 4: Thursday, March … Continue reading DCPS: Meetings and Money

Yes, fellow DC citizens, we have a deadline: March 3. That is when OSSE, our office of the state superintendent of education, plans to suspend public comment on a finalized version of DC’s implementation of the new federal accountability law for public schools, ESSA, which replaces No Child Left Behind (NCLB).... Continue reading

Oh, that’s not ME saying that! It’s the report that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published last week, called “District of Columbia Charter Schools: Multi-Agency Plan Needed to Continue Progress Addressing High And Disproportionate Discipline Rates.” (Didn’t see or hear much about this report? Hmm--but here's something.) ... Continue reading

Last week, the mayor and her deputy mayor for education, Jennifer Niles, proposed having a charter school lottery preference called the "walkability preference." Elementary-age children who live farther than half a mile from their by right school, but within that distance to a charter school, would get preference for that charter school in the lottery, … Continue reading Want To Hear About The Walkability Preference? Call At Noon, Tomorrow, Thursday February 9

For the last few weeks, DCPS has been slowly rolling out its new ed specs for public review to various ward education councils. The public has until February 12 to provide feedback. Here is more information, and here is the feedback form to submit your thoughts. These ed specs are not merely an updated guide … Continue reading Shouting Into The Hurricane: DCPS Ed Specs Edition

It's almost spring--and whether you are waiting for daffodils to bloom or our DC bald eagles to lay an egg (or two!), there is always a city council education hearing to attend, listen to online, or testify at. Sign up here to testify or call 202-724-8061 (be sure to do both at least TWO business days … Continue reading Hearings–And More Hearings!

Starting next week, on February 7, our DC superintendent of education (OSSE) is holding public meetings around the city to get feedback on how to implement the federal law known as ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), which is to replace No Child Left Behind. OSSE's proposal is here, and the OSSE website contains more information on … Continue reading Public Meetings and Hearings on ESSA