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

Tomorrow morning, March 3, starting at 8 am, DCPS teachers will rally at Freedom Plaza (14th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW), in front of DC's city hall, to demand a new contract. After 6 years without pay increases or a contract, DCPS teachers were just offered a contract without retroactive pay and without any say whether … Continue reading No Pay Raises, No Contract? This Time, It’s On Us

[Ed. Note: Below are comments from DCPS teacher David Tansey and DCPS parent Danica Petroshius to our state superintendent of education’s office (OSSE) concerning how federal law to hold our schools accountable, ESSA, will be formulated in our city. OSSE proposes using an 80% weight for test scores. Many parents and teachers have protested this. … Continue reading Inspiration Morning: Weigh In NOW On How DC Should Judge Its Schools

This was just posted on the Open Government DC webpage: "My School DC and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education are holding a public meeting on Monday, March 6 from 6-7:30pm at the Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin St NE) to discuss the [mayor's] proposed walkability preference for public charter schools. The intent of the … Continue reading Charter School Walkability Preference: Public Meeting 3/6/17

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