As with the weather, a lot of people complain about how kids don’t read anymore, but no one seems to know what to do about it. In Raising Kids Who Read, cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham makes the case that nurturing an enthusiastic reader isn’t nearly as hard as controlling the elements. So what’s a parent to do? (Although Willingham includes teachers in his subtitle, his focus is primarily on parents.) Here’s what not to do: Don’t “break out flash cards” for a 1-year-old, Willingham … [Read more...]
DC expands high-quality childcare for low-income babies and toddlers
The District has led the nation in making public preschool available to all children from the age of three. Now it's beginning to focus on improving child care for low-income children during the crucial years before three. Last month, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced an initiative that promises to boost the quality of child care for some of the District's youngest, and poorest, children. Currently, about 750 babies and toddlers in DC benefit from the high standards set by the federal Early Head … [Read more...]
DC’s attorney general has okayed DC’s plan to help males of color. But that might not be the end of the story.
DC's attorney general has decided that a District initiative to help boys and young men "of color" doesn't violate laws against sex discrimination. But there are large holes in his argument. In January, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson unveiled a $20 million initiative called Empowering Males of Color (EMOC). The plan calls for establishing an all-boys college prep high school, recruiting 500 volunteer tutors, and awarding individual schools grants for … [Read more...]
DCPS plans to give Wilson less money to serve more students
DC Public Schools plans to cut Wilson High School's budget next year by 10%, even though the student body is expected to grow by 10%. Parent groups and the school's principal are protesting, arguing that the cuts will hurt the most vulnerable students at the relatively affluent school. Next year's proposed budget will effectively reduce the school's allocation by $1.8 million, according to Interim Principal Gregory Bargeman. He and parents at Wilson warn that the cut will mean larger class … [Read more...]
DCPS plans new perks to attract highly rated teachers to struggling schools
[Note: This is an April Fools post!] The DC Public School system has come up with an innovative new program to lure highly rated teachers to struggling schools. Teachers rated "highly effective" under DCPS's teacher evaluation system are clustered in schools in affluent Ward 3. For years, DCPS has been offering highly rated teachers bonuses of up to $20,000 to induce them to teach in high-poverty schools, where teachers who receive the system's top rating are far less numerous. But it … [Read more...]
DC’s charters boost learning for poor and minority students
DC's charter schools do a better job than its traditional public schools when it comes to educating low-income and minority students, according to a recent national study. But the study indicates that white and Asian students fare better in the traditional sector. The study ranked DC's charter sector sixth in the nation among 41 urban school districts for its positive impact on student learning. Overall, students in charter schools have had bigger gains in both reading and math than similar … [Read more...]