Slouching Into 2023 With DC’s Zero Sum Education Politics

On December 20, the DC council passed a bill (see here and here) authored, edited, promoted, re-presented, and (eventually, thankfully) amended by chairman of the council Phil Mendelson that will re-do how DCPS school budgets are calculated. The bill now includes amendments that advocates fought hard for, as DCPS parent and budget guru Betsy Wolf … Continue reading Slouching Into 2023 With DC’s Zero Sum Education Politics

Integrity–Or, When DC Charters Lie About Real Estate (And Other Tales Of Public Dissing)

[Ed. Note: The following is a public comment submitted December 18 via email to the DC public charter school board concerning its new public comment process, which (per the charter board’s memo on it) was created to “improve the integrity of the public comment process.”] Dear charter board members, My name is Valerie Jablow, and … Continue reading Integrity–Or, When DC Charters Lie About Real Estate (And Other Tales Of Public Dissing)

A Round-Up Of Recent News That Should Influence DC Voters (But Probably Won’t)

--On November 16, DCPS is holding its annual (mandated) budget meeting; sign up is here. Per history, expect a tightly controlled official narrative; limited testimony with no official response; and finishing within seconds of the announced ending. ---Here is a helpful list of school-based mental health providers, by school, from the DC department of behavioral … Continue reading A Round-Up Of Recent News That Should Influence DC Voters (But Probably Won’t)

Unsafe Passages: A History Of Inaction & Photo Essay

In late October, the DC Council marked-up the Safe Streets for Students bill, B24-0066. It would create an office of safe passage to monitor conditions and promote safe passage; provide for more crossing guards; and ensure a master plan for safe routes and passage for school kids over 5 years. A vote is expected before … Continue reading Unsafe Passages: A History Of Inaction & Photo Essay

DCPS Strategery (Now, With Council Assistance!)

This past week, after more than a month, DCPS ended holding public feedback sessions on its strategic plan. The only hitch: There is no strategic plan. For sure, there were good questions asked of participants at the virtual session I attended, on October 1—and the slide deck presented at my session articulated goals as well … Continue reading DCPS Strategery (Now, With Council Assistance!)

Come On, DC: Save Our School Librarians!

[Ed. Note: The following editorial, to save legislation that would ensure all DCPS schools have librarians henceforward, is by long-time DCPS libraries activist Peter MacPherson.] By Peter MacPherson For reasons that cannot sustain even modest scrutiny, DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson has shown no interest in helping DCPS school librarians.  Worse, he is actively preventing … Continue reading Come On, DC: Save Our School Librarians!