Now that we have a federal secretary of education on record as expecting a little education play for all her political donation pay, and now that we have had a well-funded education reform PAC phone bank its way to DC’s new (and test-heavy) public education accountability standards, what’s next with our city’s Public Schools, Inc.? … Continue reading Public Schools, Inc.

[UPDATE: See link to petition below] Yesterday, Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) sent a letter, signed by 50 people, asking that the state board vote for OSSE’s draft plan for ESSA. The state board is slated to vote tomorrow night. Many parents have testified against OSSE’s draft plan, as its test-heavy emphasis (now only 70% … Continue reading So, About That Letter to the State Board On ESSA (Golden Apple Edition)

Well, I seem to have missed the notice, but the second (and presumably last) public meeting on the mayor's charter school walkability preference is this Thursday March 23, starting at 6 pm at the Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Neighborhood Library (115 Atlantic St. SW). More information is here. My missing this just might have had … Continue reading Charter Walkability Preference Meeting: 3/23

Next Thursday March 23, starting at 10 am, our city council will hold a hearing on legislation the council put forth in January to ensure every public school in DC has a full-time nurse starting at the end of 2017. Sign up to testify here. More information on the legislation is here. To say that … Continue reading DC’s Continuing Need For School Health Professionals

If you care that our by right schools are in decent shape for ALL children, sign this letter by March 19, demanding that Mayor Bowser and our other city leaders #fixallschools. Ward 6's education council, the Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO), is leading this effort to ensure that all DCPS schools are brought … Continue reading Sign This Now to #FixAllSchools

[Update 3/14/17: OSSE's response to all public comment is here, in a document dated March 14.] and it's all good: "Today [Friday March 10], the DC State Board of Education [SBOE] provided the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) with ten recommendations for changes to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) draft accountability … Continue reading Woo Hoo! Our State Board of Education Goes There . . .

The other day, I participated in a phone call with several other people regarding the charter school walkability preference proposal. As you may recall, the mayor proposed on January 30 giving elementary-age students a preference in the lottery for charter schools if their by right DCPS schools are more than half a mile away from … Continue reading Dispatches from Planet Pollyanna: Charter School Walkability Edition

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, Teaching For Change, a social justice nonprofit working with DC schools and teachers, sent a letter to the mayor, deputy mayor for education (DME), council, state board of education, and DC attorney general, asking those DC leaders to enact specific and affirmative policies to ensure our DC public schools will … Continue reading Sanctuary in DC: School Edition

So you missed last week's deadline to get your comments in to OSSE on its draft plan to judge our public schools? That’s not exactly surprising, as we DC citizens had a total of 33 days, tops. (Which is actually a few days more than DCPS chancellor Antwan Wilson had.) But you can STILL get a … Continue reading Who Says There Are No Second Acts? Let’s Talk ESSA—And Take A Poll!

If you can spare some time this Monday and Tuesday, please call some members of the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee (listed below) and ask them (nicely, politely, but firmly) to oppose Congressman Jason Chaffetz's DC voucher bill. The bill--expected to be introduced tomorrow--will be voted on Wednesday morning. It is expected … Continue reading Got A Phone? Make A Call For DC Public Schools Monday and Tuesday