Letter from Cancellor re moving schools - opps - I got caught moving my kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

I never said displacement I am simply a realist. DCPS school success improvements are directly correlated to SES and the increase in gentrification.

Schools with more than 50% at risk populations run by DCPS have continued to fail. Those are just facts.

As someone who actually cares about all people in DC. Areas that have more than 50% at risk populations would be better served by charters specifically KIPP and DC Prep who actually get results and give students an actual shot at future success.

[Anonymous]

All of this fury is a real signal to the mayor and council that, as more and more families raise kids in DC, education and the school crises are major issues. All of this took them all by surprise-- and that makes me wonder if they are paying attention at all.

The number of DC parents are growing every year. It should surprise no one that in this seemingly zero-sum game of schools here in DC, that parents are going to be very loud and very demanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides, I'm not sure dcps teachers understand how hard the parent community took this

The level of anger clearly took the Council by surprise. On Fri/Sat you could tell that Grosso thought this would blow over. He did a complete reversal. I do admire him for responding to what the voters want, but his original posturing shows how much he doesn't get it.

Actually, his original posturing showed how much he DOES get that it's worse for DCPS students and teachers for him to go right now, in the middle of the school year.

But it's true, the explosion in voices of the parents was super loud and that was not going to blow over. It's too bad they couldn't figure out how to keep him and explain he was gone after the SY ended but would finish the good changes he started until then.

He doesn't get why the parents would be so furious. He thinks it's just a bunch of cranky whiners. He didn't understand that the snowball would keep picking up speed daily until June. That idiotic "hmmm" tweet showed his true colors.

Day-to-day there would be nothing that Wilson could accomplish between now and the end of the year as a lame duck.

What was the "hmmm" tweet? (I searched, but can't find)

It was Grosso reacting to a reporter's summary of Kathy Patterson's reaction (so it won't show up in his own feed). He suggested she had sacrificed her independence and might not be capable of conducting audits related to education any longer.

Grosso is an embarrassment and is a perfect example of all that is wrong with Modern DC politics. He cares more about national liberal issues than actually governing. He has done almost no real investigative/reform work. He never took a stand on the Chancellor and then had the audacity to put out a press release after the chancellor left.

Reallyl?? Someone who actually cares about schools and has worked to understand ALL SIDES of several truly complex issues and tried to advocate for what he feels are the best overall fixes is "a perfect example of all that's wrong in DC politics?" Give me a damn break.

You're not solving a dang thing with posts like that. Be specific, offer specific examples of evidence he's done no real investigative/reform work. And if you really know your stuff, then once you're done giving specifics about why you're trashing him, how about you and everyone else making overgeneralized non-actionable comments spends time advocating for this below instead of what you just said above (and below is not my post, it's another previous poster), because what's below will actually make a difference. Unlike your generalized criticisms. Focus on making this happen instead:

"Also, successful identification and remediation for kids who are falling behind, or have special needs, or need additional social supports, in ELEMENTARY school so that we don't keep passing them from grade to grade until they are middle and high school-aged and so far behind that catching them up is an impossible task. What needs to happen to successfully support 3rd and 4th and 5th graders so that they are on grade level when they move to middle school?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of this fury is a real signal to the mayor and council that, as more and more families raise kids in DC, education and the school crises are major issues. All of this took them all by surprise-- and that makes me wonder if they are paying attention at all.

The number of DC parents are growing every year. It should surprise no one that in this seemingly zero-sum game of schools here in DC, that parents are going to be very loud and very demanding.

What's ironic is if DC could solve the middle school problem on the hill most of these voices would go away until the next gentrification wave probably Brookland in another 10 years or so.

Also, the fact remains that less 10% of voters in DC have children in DCPS so come election time it really isn't that big of an issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides, I'm not sure dcps teachers understand how hard the parent community took this

The level of anger clearly took the Council by surprise. On Fri/Sat you could tell that Grosso thought this would blow over. He did a complete reversal. I do admire him for responding to what the voters want, but his original posturing shows how much he doesn't get it.

Actually, his original posturing showed how much he DOES get that it's worse for DCPS students and teachers for him to go right now, in the middle of the school year.

But it's true, the explosion in voices of the parents was super loud and that was not going to blow over. It's too bad they couldn't figure out how to keep him and explain he was gone after the SY ended but would finish the good changes he started until then.

He doesn't get why the parents would be so furious. He thinks it's just a bunch of cranky whiners. He didn't understand that the snowball would keep picking up speed daily until June. That idiotic "hmmm" tweet showed his true colors.

Day-to-day there would be nothing that Wilson could accomplish between now and the end of the year as a lame duck.

What was the "hmmm" tweet? (I searched, but can't find)

It was Grosso reacting to a reporter's summary of Kathy Patterson's reaction (so it won't show up in his own feed). He suggested she had sacrificed her independence and might not be capable of conducting audits related to education any longer.

Grosso is an embarrassment and is a perfect example of all that is wrong with Modern DC politics. He cares more about national liberal issues than actually governing. He has done almost no real investigative/reform work. He never took a stand on the Chancellor and then had the audacity to put out a press release after the chancellor left.

Reallyl?? Someone who actually cares about schools and has worked to understand ALL SIDES of several truly complex issues and tried to advocate for what he feels are the best overall fixes is "a perfect example of all that's wrong in DC politics?" Give me a damn break.

You're not solving a dang thing with posts like that. Be specific, offer specific examples of evidence he's done no real investigative/reform work. And if you really know your stuff, then once you're done giving specifics about why you're trashing him, how about you and everyone else making overgeneralized non-actionable comments spends time advocating for this below instead of what you just said above (and below is not my post, it's another previous poster), because what's below will actually make a difference. Unlike your generalized criticisms. Focus on making this happen instead:

"Also, successful identification and remediation for kids who are falling behind, or have special needs, or need additional social supports, in ELEMENTARY school so that we don't keep passing them from grade to grade until they are middle and high school-aged and so far behind that catching them up is an impossible task. What needs to happen to successfully support 3rd and 4th and 5th graders so that they are on grade level when they move to middle school?"

How about actually addressing the graduation attendance scandal to start. He has been a joke/embarrassment at most of the hearings. He is exactly like the chancellor no leadership and blame/ignorence

Cheh, Silverman, and Robert White actually understand whats going on. I'm working with them on stuff. Grosso is an empty suit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

So what would you change? Nothing?

The PP is suggesting essentially mandating that all poor and working class kids get a no excuses academy, the likes of which were caught using corporal punishment not so long ago. If parents choose that for their kids, fine, but suggesting that low income kids, and kids of color, will only succeed in a prison-like environment is bigotry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of this fury is a real signal to the mayor and council that, as more and more families raise kids in DC, education and the school crises are major issues. All of this took them all by surprise-- and that makes me wonder if they are paying attention at all.

The number of DC parents are growing every year. It should surprise no one that in this seemingly zero-sum game of schools here in DC, that parents are going to be very loud and very demanding.

What's ironic is if DC could solve the middle school problem on the hill most of these voices would go away until the next gentrification wave probably Brookland in another 10 years or so.

Also, the fact remains that less 10% of voters in DC have children in DCPS so come election time it really isn't that big of an issue

Not really. the WOTP folks are up in arms about overcrowding as well. EOTP people play the lottery time and time again, with only a slim chance of winding up in a "good" charter or OOB school, and poor people still have noting but crappy choices ahead of them.

Yes, the school population isn't huge -- but it's growing. And people bound together in a common cause are a whole lot more effective than those who have disparate interests. I'm not saying it will be THE question, but it is surely proving much more important than they all thought it would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: OOB is the symptom, not the problem. If everyone had a decent IB school people could go wherever they wanted OOB and nobody would care.

True, true. Strong schools build strong neighborhoods build strong schools build strong neighborhoods. Charter schools are no panacea.
So.
What will it take to improve the Dunbars and Roosevelts and Ballous? We need a mayor, chancellor, & DME with the brilliance and integrity to pull that off.

Significant economic growth that creates good paying jobs for working-class people and affordable quality child care so people can keep those jobs.

Reductions in crime, and consequently the numbers of children suffering from trauma.

Comprehensive prenatal care for all women, more children born healthy and at full-birth weight.

If we had a city with a healthy population and fewer children experiencing trauma, then we wouldn't need such drastic measures in the schools.

But until we have a city filled with children who are truly ready to learn, we're gonna keep having the same problems.

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

So your solution is "charters/gentrification"? Basically to move upwardly mobile people into DC and move out the pesky, bothersome lower-income folks and at-risk students? That doesn't "solve" anything. It just pushes what you perceive as the "problem people" outside of DC to fend for themselves.

At least be honest about what you're proposing.

That said, your 2nd proposal of the Harlem Children's Zone is an actual solution, although as you say it's got to be a long-term one and it does take a lot of resources. But it works, and you can see positive results in 2 years, you don't wait 15 yrs for positive results. But it does take a lot more years to truly change the underlying dynamics and have kids actually start off in a better place, and have schools improve in dramatic, sustainable ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of this fury is a real signal to the mayor and council that, as more and more families raise kids in DC, education and the school crises are major issues. All of this took them all by surprise-- and that makes me wonder if they are paying attention at all.

The number of DC parents are growing every year. It should surprise no one that in this seemingly zero-sum game of schools here in DC, that parents are going to be very loud and very demanding.

What's ironic is if DC could solve the middle school problem on the hill most of these voices would go away until the next gentrification wave probably Brookland in another 10 years or so.

Also, the fact remains that less 10% of voters in DC have children in DCPS so come election time it really isn't that big of an issue

I am asking, not trying to be skeptical, but I thought it was 10 percent of the population, not of actual voters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

So what would you change? Nothing?

The PP is suggesting essentially mandating that all poor and working class kids get a no excuses academy, the likes of which were caught using corporal punishment not so long ago. If parents choose that for their kids, fine, but suggesting that low income kids, and kids of color, will only succeed in a prison-like environment is bigotry.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? (NP here). Have you ever read anything about Harlem Children's Zone? Have you visited a KIPP school?

What these programs provide is external structures where poor kids need them. Middle class kids get them at home.

[Anonymous]

If you want to hear a GREAT podcast about Harlem Children's Zone -- check this out.

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/364/going-big

One of my favorite TALs ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

So what would you change? Nothing?

The PP is suggesting essentially mandating that all poor and working class kids get a no excuses academy, the likes of which were caught using corporal punishment not so long ago. If parents choose that for their kids, fine, but suggesting that low income kids, and kids of color, will only succeed in a prison-like environment is bigotry.

would you quit with that crap I never said kids of color I said low income. False racism cries help noone. Now I do agree with you that it shouldn't be mandated. Personally I think the ideal solution is to get the neighborhood schools up to par and you do that by taking what works from DC Prep KIPP and others. The problem is DCPS has failed the past 10, 20, 30, 40, 50+years multiple generations. Would you rather keep the status quo or give people a choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

So what would you change? Nothing?

The PP is suggesting essentially mandating that all poor and working class kids get a no excuses academy, the likes of which were caught using corporal punishment not so long ago. If parents choose that for their kids, fine, but suggesting that low income kids, and kids of color, will only succeed in a prison-like environment is bigotry.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? (NP here). Have you ever read anything about Harlem Children's Zone? Have you visited a KIPP school?

What these programs provide is external structures where poor kids need them. Middle class kids get them at home.

Would it surprise you to know that DC has already received funds from the same folks who organized HCZ? Maybe we ought to see the results from that project before we go claiming to be able to answer all of DCPS's problems with "gentrification and KIPP"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

So what would you change? Nothing?

The PP is suggesting essentially mandating that all poor and working class kids get a no excuses academy, the likes of which were caught using corporal punishment not so long ago. If parents choose that for their kids, fine, but suggesting that low income kids, and kids of color, will only succeed in a prison-like environment is bigotry.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? (NP here). Have you ever read anything about Harlem Children's Zone? Have you visited a KIPP school?

What these programs provide is external structures where poor kids need them. Middle class kids get them at home.

Would it surprise you to know that DC has already received funds from the same folks who organized HCZ? Maybe we ought to see the results from that project before we go claiming to be able to answer all of DCPS's problems with "gentrification and KIPP"

They received money for what exactly? What was the grant for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The solution is charters/gentrification period. I am involved in education policy and noone has been able to deal with an area with over 80% "at risk" student populations. DCPS is nearly 80% at-risk.

If I was in charge I would put KIPP/DC Prep in charge of all low performing schools they are the only groups that have gotten results.

Another alternative is something like the Harlem Children's Zone. https://hcz.org/ Something like that might work in say Ward 8 but it takes a ton of resources, involvement and a long-term commitment 15+ years before seeing results.

These are abhorrent views and you should feel badly about yourself for sharing them, even anonymously. If your answer to poverty is gentrification (displacing all the poor folks) plus no excuses academies for those poor kids and kids of color that you don't manage to displace? Well, then you are bad education policy and bad at being a human being and citizen.

So what would you change? Nothing?

The PP is suggesting essentially mandating that all poor and working class kids get a no excuses academy, the likes of which were caught using corporal punishment not so long ago. If parents choose that for their kids, fine, but suggesting that low income kids, and kids of color, will only succeed in a prison-like environment is bigotry.

would you quit with that crap I never said kids of color I said low income. False racism cries help noone. Now I do agree with you that it shouldn't be mandated. Personally I think the ideal solution is to get the neighborhood schools up to par and you do that by taking what works from DC Prep KIPP and others. The problem is DCPS has failed the past 10, 20, 30, 40, 50+years multiple generations. Would you rather keep the status quo or give people a choice

It's no one. I'm sorry for correcting you but if you want to talk authoritatively about education, it's best to look like you're educated.