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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to make an entirely different point. Wilson made a big parenting mistake as well as the obvious chancellor mistak: his kid was in a new school in a completely new environment without a network. Of Course she stayed in her room and wasn’t hungry and didn’t like school. All she needed was one friend to make things brighten up...and that takes time. It took my shy son 3 months in a similar situation. He should have modeled perseverance and maybe gotten her a therapist to help her manage this rough patch. Had he done so he’d still be chancellor and she would have learned to solve her problems and he should have trusted her to find her way eventually. She was better off at Ellington in the long run aside from her daddy’s screw-up.

Just stop. We have NO IDEA what happened to her and it's wrong and nuts to speculate. Leave the kid out of it.

[Anonymous]

Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

Paid for with what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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

Ok, I'm game, give specifics. What did Grosso say/do during the graduation/attendance hearings that you found so embarrassing? What are examples of Cheh, Silverman and White showing they actually understand what's going on at a level that Grosso doesn't? I'm not disagreeing with you on whether the latter 3 know a lot about this, but I want to understand the giant gap you perceive between them and Grosso. What did he say/do that was such an embarrassment during those hearings?

It's more what he didn't/doesn't say. He doesn't understand what's really going on. He doesn't understand the intersection between central office, metrics and enforcement. He doesn't understand there still needs to be an actual investigation into root causes. He just doesn't get it. It's like he's been asleep up there for years. He even admitted that he had been duped by central office for as he put it "trusting them" too much.

Counter that with this https://twitter.com/RobertWhite_DC/status/966364244861177864

Grosso ticks me off. He was the one who suggested that Charter schools have local neighborhood preference. This would tie owning a large, expensive house to a quality education again - and put us right back in the situation we had before. He doesn't seem to understand that a charter school's ability to pull from all corners of the city is a large part of what makes it great and allows those with less resources to get a good education for their children.

He also came up with the suggestion that non-citizens could vote in DC elections. After all the paperwork, stress and money I went through to be able to be here legally, he just plans to open up voting to anyone? There is no way I am voting for him.

Not to take this too far off topic, but is he talking about undocumented immigrants, or legal permanent residents? Because non-citizen does not equal illegal, and there are good arguments to be made for letting legal permanent residents vote in local elections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

There is no indication that attendance, or social promotion, is a problem at charter schools (just look at their graduation rates; not all pass), and even less so that there's a shred of a problem at elementary schools. Yet Grosso wants to spend money to audit all of the schools. What's wrong with this guy? How does he win elections?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

There is no indication that attendance, or social promotion, is a problem at charter schools (just look at their graduation rates; not all pass), and even less so that there's a shred of a problem at elementary schools. Yet Grosso wants to spend money to audit all of the schools. What's wrong with this guy? How does he win elections?

I wonder if by attendance he's also meaning to include residence issues...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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

Ok, I'm game, give specifics. What did Grosso say/do during the graduation/attendance hearings that you found so embarrassing? What are examples of Cheh, Silverman and White showing they actually understand what's going on at a level that Grosso doesn't? I'm not disagreeing with you on whether the latter 3 know a lot about this, but I want to understand the giant gap you perceive between them and Grosso. What did he say/do that was such an embarrassment during those hearings?

It's more what he didn't/doesn't say. He doesn't understand what's really going on. He doesn't understand the intersection between central office, metrics and enforcement. He doesn't understand there still needs to be an actual investigation into root causes. He just doesn't get it. It's like he's been asleep up there for years. He even admitted that he had been duped by central office for as he put it "trusting them" too much.

Counter that with this https://twitter.com/RobertWhite_DC/status/966364244861177864

Grosso ticks me off. He was the one who suggested that Charter schools have local neighborhood preference. This would tie owning a large, expensive house to a quality education again - and put us right back in the situation we had before. He doesn't seem to understand that a charter school's ability to pull from all corners of the city is a large part of what makes it great and allows those with less resources to get a good education for their children.

He also came up with the suggestion that non-citizens could vote in DC elections. After all the paperwork, stress and money I went through to be able to be here legally, he just plans to open up voting to anyone? There is no way I am voting for him.

Not to take this too far off topic, but is he talking about undocumented immigrants, or legal permanent residents? Because non-citizen does not equal illegal, and there are good arguments to be made for letting legal permanent residents vote in local elections.

He was talking about legal residents - greencard holders, people with H1B visas, B1 visas, G visas, F visas. To include exchange students, people here temporarily on business etc.

The ability to vote, serve on a jury etc. is a privilege of citizenship, and something people strive hard to achieve. Years are spent dealing with lawyers, the federal bureaucracy and being fingerprinted. I went through an FBI background check, a history test and a language test. Applying to become a citizen shows commitment and dedication on the part of the applicant. A desire to become an active and involved member of society. Exchange students and people temporarily here on business should not automatically get those sorts of privileges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

There is no indication that attendance, or social promotion, is a problem at charter schools (just look at their graduation rates; not all pass), and even less so that there's a shred of a problem at elementary schools. Yet Grosso wants to spend money to audit all of the schools. What's wrong with this guy? How does he win elections?

I wonder if by attendance he's also meaning to include residence issues...

Based on what I heard at the hearing, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

There is no indication that attendance, or social promotion, is a problem at charter schools (just look at their graduation rates; not all pass), and even less so that there's a shred of a problem at elementary schools. Yet Grosso wants to spend money to audit all of the schools. What's wrong with this guy? How does he win elections?

I wonder if by attendance he's also meaning to include residence issues...

That's already audited by OSSE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grosso finally taking some more action

https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/966415861690052610

There is no indication that attendance, or social promotion, is a problem at charter schools (just look at their graduation rates; not all pass), and even less so that there's a shred of a problem at elementary schools. Yet Grosso wants to spend money to audit all of the schools. What's wrong with this guy? How does he win elections?

I wish it would look at social promotion. We aren't ever going to fix the high school problems when we keep moving kids up when they aren't ready. If I was in high school at an elementary reading level I wouldn't show up to class either!

[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.

NP. No, these views are simply different than your own. I couldn't agree more with the pro KIPP guy, and we're hardly alone.

Please grow up and stop the name calling, hon. We can always disagree without being disagreeable here.

Exactly. DCPS (and the lower performing charters) need to learn from KIPP and DC Prep.

The reason they are successful is because they don't take all the kids so they are successful with the ones that at least have parents motivated enought to enrol, when Kipp tried to take over a neighborhood school they FAILED!!! Again, they are great at what they do, but even they are not successful when they have to take all who walk in the door.

[Anonymous]

I had the same thought. Sounds like a knee-jerk reaction on the parents' part that an engaged counselor, maybe at Ellington, could have steered in a different direction if the family had kept an open mind.

If the girl was still miserable at Ellington after a school year, the family could have moved IB for Wilson.

[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.

NP. No, these views are simply different than your own. I couldn't agree more with the pro KIPP guy, and we're hardly alone.

Please grow up and stop the name calling, hon. We can always disagree without being disagreeable here.

Exactly. DCPS (and the lower performing charters) need to learn from KIPP and DC Prep.

The reason they are successful is because they don't take all the kids so they are successful with the ones that at least have parents motivated enought to enrol, when Kipp tried to take over a neighborhood school they FAILED!!! Again, they are great at what they do, but even they are not successful when they have to take all who walk in the door.

Exactly this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to make an entirely different point. Wilson made a big parenting mistake as well as the obvious chancellor mistak: his kid was in a new school in a completely new environment without a network. Of Course she stayed in her room and wasn’t hungry and didn’t like school. All she needed was one friend to make things brighten up...and that takes time. It took my shy son 3 months in a similar situation. He should have modeled perseverance and maybe gotten her a therapist to help her manage this rough patch. Had he done so he’d still be chancellor and she would have learned to solve her problems and he should have trusted her to find her way eventually. She was better off at Ellington in the long run aside from her daddy’s screw-up.

Just stop. We have NO IDEA what happened to her and it's wrong and nuts to speculate. Leave the kid out of it.

No worse than the constant speculation that she had been bullied and that is why he sought a transfer. DP by the way.

[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.

NP. No, these views are simply different than your own. I couldn't agree more with the pro KIPP guy, and we're hardly alone.

Please grow up and stop the name calling, hon. We can always disagree without being disagreeable here.

Exactly. DCPS (and the lower performing charters) need to learn from KIPP and DC Prep.

The reason they are successful is because they don't take all the kids so they are successful with the ones that at least have parents motivated enought to enrol, when Kipp tried to take over a neighborhood school they FAILED!!! Again, they are great at what they do, but even they are not successful when they have to take all who walk in the door.

Exactly this.

Do you have hard numbers for this. I hear all this complaining but then if you look at the numbers the wash out rate is less than 5% and the expulsion rate is less than 1%

For the truly tough cases I would recommend a military type school for the 1% of DCPS with the worst behavioral problems. Overall, KIPP/DC Prep does a much better job of educating high-risk students than DCPS