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

[Ed. Note: The following is by DC public schools advocate Peter MacPherson] What I write here appears to be a success story: right now, the District of Columbia Public Schools has a credentialed librarian in almost every school. The system as a whole has more books that meet national standards in terms of currency than … Continue reading DCPS School Libraries: The Continuing Saga of the Inequitable and Underfunded

Not sure what announcements will be made this week other than city giving a long-term lease on the closed Keene Elementary School to DC Bilingual Public Charter School.  Must be why they chose this location for the event. MEDIA ADVISORY     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2017 CONTACT: Susana Castillo (EOM) – (202) 727-5011; susana.castillo@dc.gov Shayne … Continue reading Accelerating School Reform???

[Ed. Note: The following is a message drafted by a group of school advocates, including me and Caryn Ernst, a fellow DCPS parent. Please pass it on.] The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2016 (ESSA) gives states the opportunity to reduce the extreme weight on test scores to rank schools, which was the cornerstone of … Continue reading This May Be Your LAST CHANCE to Give Input on DC Public School Accountability Measures

Former mayor Anthony Williams, co-chair of our city's cross sector collaboration task force, recently recorded a video in support of President Trump's nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos. The video was made on behalf of charter, private school voucher and school choice interest group American Federation for Children. Although she has never been educated in public schools, … Continue reading Call The Mayor If You Think Our Public School Task Force Co-Chair Should Not Shill For Private School Vouchers