On Monday April 4, I got a surprise—and not the kind that comes nicely wrapped in pretty paper. Months before, on December 6, 2021, two bills—24-556 and 24-555--concerning former DCPS schools Gibbs and Shaed, respectively, were introduced. This permanent legislation would extend until 2045 and 2046 (and potentially until 2070 and 2071) the leases of … Continue reading Locking Up Gibbs And Shaed For The Century (Darkly)

Last week (and weeks late), DCPS released the capital plan documentation required when it made public its budget in March.  The documentation marks a seminal moment in the continued disregard of the mayor and her deputies for the public’s connection to the public school assets held in its name. Basically, it is a plan to end municipally … Continue reading DCPS School Planning (AKA “A Hand Tied Behind The Back And A Foot In A Bucket Of Concrete”)

[Ed. Note: On March 7, DC’s office of the state superintendent of education (OSSE) submitted to the federal department of education an addendum to its state plan for accountability for DC’s publicly funded schools. In its cover letter, OSSE mentioned receiving public feedback. But that feedback was limited to four entities: a charter advocacy organization; … Continue reading Feedback For School Ratings And Accountability (And Seeing DC’s Plan In A New Light)